Results 30,341-30,360 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: The approval of applicants was determined by the following priority selection criteria: - Applicants within a targeted area of the Boora region of Co. Offaly who select Wild Bird Cover Option B (Grey Partridge) will get first access, - Applicants with eligible Natura land will get access next, - Applicants with at least 0.5 hectares of Utilisable Agricultural Non-Natura Commonage land rank...

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

Simon Coveney: Despite the challenging budgetary constraints facing my Department, last year I allocated €20 million annually to fund the Agri Environment Options Scheme III. I decided on a maximum payment of €4,000 per annum for individual applicants which allowed for 6,000 new participants to be accepted to the scheme. The approval of applicants was determined by the following priority...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Reports (12 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Value for Money and Policy Review Initiative was introduced in 2006 as the successor to the 1997 Expenditure Review Initiative. The objectives of this programme of reviews are to analyse Exchequer spending in a systematic manner and to provide a basis on which more informed decisions can be made within and between programmes. Value for Money Reviews are organised in three year cycles....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Felling Licences Conditions (12 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: All felling licences issued by my Department have, with rare exception, a replanting condition that must be satisfied. The onus is on the licensee to comply with his obligations under the licence and failure to do so could result in prosecution under the Forestry Act, 1946. My Department is not aware of any large scale failure to replant in any County.

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

Simon Coveney: An application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 22nd November 2012. Under the selection criteria regarding farm size, only farms of 22.06 hectares or less were into admitted into the scheme. During the pre approval validation checks on the application of the person named, it was found that the farm size was in excess of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Applications (12 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: A National Reserve has operated under the current Single Payment Scheme since 2005. However, since the National Reserve is funded solely from the reversion of unused entitlements, and as the number of unused entitlements has been decreasing in recent years, it is not possible to operate a National Reserve for the 2013 and 2014 scheme years. It is envisaged that the new CAP regime that will...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Genetically Modified Organisms (12 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Genetic modification is a science-based technology which, in the case of plants, alters the gene structure in a way that does not occur naturally through fertilisation or natural recombination. This modification confers certain traits to the plant that can be advantageous to agriculture and food production. The issue of genetic modification is dealt with by three State agencies in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (12 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy will be aware from my reply to his Parliamentary Question on 8 May that no payment had been made in this case because no application had been received. In the intervening period and following contact by my Department with the person concerned, an application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received with accompanying medical evidence relating...

Order of Business (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: That was because we could not get speakers from the other side of the House.

Order of Business (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Fianna Fáil wanted to abolish the Seanad, too.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Funding (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under the National Development Plan 2007-2013, EU funds were used to support a number of measures. However, horse breeding and equestrian sports and activities were not in receipt of EU funds.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: I wish to reiterate that the sale of the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests is under consideration, not the land, and no decision has been taken on this matter as yet. 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 this Department...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, 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. The person named was unable to meet this requirement, but...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Marine Resources (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: In recognition of the under-utilisation of our vast marine resource, the Inter-Departmental Marine Coordination Group (MCG), on behalf of the Government, developed Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth - An Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland. The Plan launched by the Government in July 2012, provides a fresh momentum for growth in the marine area and seeks to ensure Government departments work together...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 30th November 2012. Under the selection criteria regarding farm size, only farms of 22.06 hectares or less were into admitted into the scheme. During the pre approval validation checks on the application of the person named, it was found that the farm size was in excess of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 6th December 2012. The application of the person named successfully completed the pre approval validation checks. On 27th May 2013 a letter issued to the person named informing him that his application to join the AEOS Scheme was successful and notified him of his contract...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The persons named submitted a Consolidation application to my Department on the 29th May 2013. The closing date for receipt of such applications was the 15th May 2013. Officials from my Department have reviewed the circumstances surrounding this application and are willing to accept the application at this late stage. An official from my Department made direct contact with the persons...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Application Numbers (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The table sets out the number of persons in each County who have been approved in the Agri Environment Options Scheme III. A total of 9,703 AEOS III applications were received by the closing date and have now been fully processed. Based on the annual budget of €20 million and following the ranking and selection process, a total of 6,000 applicants have been approved for participation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The principal purpose of the fodder transport scheme that I announced in April was to contribute to the transport costs of importing fodder into the country and to provide assistance to farmers to secure adequate fodder to feed their animals. The Scheme provided financial assistance to farmers for the purchase of fodder and was operated through the Dairy co-operatives. The scheme operated...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tax Code (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: As part of Budget 2013 I announced a new initiative to facilitate the restructuring of farm holdings. This initiative will take the form of a relief on Capital Gains Tax. Relief will be available to farmers who undertake the sale and purchase of qualifying agricultural land(s). The relief will also be available for qualifying land exchange transactions. Qualifying transactions must occur...