Results 30,321-30,340 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The aims of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme are: - Ensuring continued agricultural land use, thereby contributing to the maintenance of a viable rural society; - Maintaining the countryside; - Maintaining and promoting sustainable farming systems, which, in particular, take account of environmental protection requirements. Given the restrictions faced by those farming in recognised...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: I have regular contact and discussions with Commissioner Cioloş concerning reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. I spoke to him by telephone as recently as last week and I will be meeting him later this week. In these negotiations, I have always robustly defended the principles and objectives of the CAP and have made it clear that Ireland’s aim in this reform is to maintain...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Stocking Densities (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: I would consider that the output of organic nitrogen per hectare, NPH, on livestock farms is a good indication of stocking density on those farms. In response to a previous question from the Deputy, I provided data on NPH based on payment per hectare categories as follows: Payment per hectare category Number of farms Average NPH per Category < 250 Euro 49,804 61 > 250...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy Negotiations (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: As you will be aware, the Irish EU Presidency recently concluded its work on securing agreement on CFP reform, which had been identified as a priority for the Presidency. The agreement, concluded after months of complex negotiations with the European Parliament, will be of significant benefit to all fisheries groups as it places the concept of long term sustainability at the core of European...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rights of Way (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as land transactions, are the responsibility of the company. The company has, however, advised that a grant of a right of way from Coillte at the location mentioned by the Deputy was completed on 28th May 2013. It is noted that the grant was not to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Appeals (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: As stated in my response to previous Parliamentary Questions on this case on 16th April 2013, the decision of the Independent Agriculture Appeals Office, which was to disallow the appeal and uphold the Department's original decision, was notified to the applicant on 12th March 2013. The Appeals Office also set out the further avenue available to the applicant, involving reference to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Appeals (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: An appeal was received in the Agriculture Appeals Office from the person named on 14 March 2013. The case is currently being examined and a decision will be made as soon as possible and communicated to the person named.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Further to the Government decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte's forests be considered for sale, NewERA, Coillte, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department examined the financial and other implications of developing the potential of Coillte's forest assets. This examination included the identification of the forestry assets involved, the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy Reform (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) was secured after many months of extremely complex negotiations with the European Parliament and is a significant achievement of the Irish EU Presidency. This radical reform will support the rebuilding of fish stocks in our waters as Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas are set to deliver maximum sustainable yield by 2015, where...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Agencies Issues (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: My officials have clarified that Deputy Naughten’s question refers to regulators such as the Financial Regulator under the Department of Finance, Taxi Regulator under the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport or Energy Regulator under the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. There are no such regulators accountable to me.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Bodies (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: There are currently 12 semi-State organisations that fall under the aegis of this Department: 1. Bord Bia 2. Bord na gCon 3. BIM 4. Coillte 5. Horse Racing Ireland 6. Irish National Stud 7. Marine Institute 8. National Milk Agency 9. Sea Fisheries Protection Authority 10. Teagasc 11. Veterinary Council of Ireland 12. Aquaculture Licence Appeals Board (ALAB).

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Bodies Establishment (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: No new semi-State organisations have been established since March 2011 under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, the holdings of eligible applicants were required to have met a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units for a retention period of six consecutive months, in addition to maintaining an annual average of 0.15 livestock units calculated over the twelve months of the scheme year. While initially the holding concerned could not be confirmed as...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Aid (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department provides grant aid and assistance to Ireland's horticultural industry through a number of schemes and programmes. The Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector assists development of the sector by grant aiding capital investments in specialised buildings and equipment as well as emerging technologies specific to commercial horticulture...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: EU Regulations provide for financial support for animals in danger of being lost to farming, more commonly referred to as rare breeds and support is currently available through the Rural Environment Protection Scheme and the Agri-Environment Options Scheme. Future policy will be determined in the context of the introduction of the EU regulatory framework governing the next programming...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases Issues (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Herd number D140125-5, which is registered to name other than the name quoted by the Deputy, was activated as a Bovine Herd number on 12 May 2013. A Movement Permit (ER37a) was issued on 13 May 2013 and is valid for 4 months until 12 September 2013 to allow the herd owner to buy animals into the herd. Newly established herds are restricted until the herd is assembled and the animals in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Eligibility (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st September 2010 and full payment totalling €1,001.66 issued in respect of 2010. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Administration (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 to 180, inclusive, together. In summary, during the years 2008 – 2012, the holding of the person concerned was subject to on-farm inspections in 2011 and 2012 and details of these are given below. However, for the sake of completeness, I am also providing data on deductions which arose from office-based processes in 2009, 2010 and 2011 associated...

Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The farmers of Tipperary are safe.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Eligibility (12 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The closing date for receipt of AEOS III applications was Friday 7th December 2012 and 9,703 applications were received by my Department. The detailed actions listed in each application have been recorded and the pre approval validation checks have been carried out in respect of each application. The approval of applicants was determined by the following priority selection criteria: -...