Results 30,481-30,500 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licences Applications (23 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: Castlemaine Harbour is designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive and a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive (Natura 2000 site). My Department, in conjunction with the Marine Institute and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, has been engaged in a major programme of data...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (23 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The following is the position regarding the applications under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme for the years mentioned: - Payment under the 2008 Scheme issued to the registered herdowner on 30 September 2008. - Payment under the 2009 Scheme was delayed due to issues regarding one of the land parcel declared. However, these have since been resolved, with payment due to issue shortly. - No...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Agencies Staff Numbers (23 May 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 the allocation and management of human resources, are the responsibility of the company. Coillte has advised that it does not employ staff to work exclusively at Donadea Forest, but that a number of staff cover the Kildare area, including Donadea. These...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme Eligibility (23 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person concerned is an approved applicant under the TAMS Sow Welfare Scheme. The applicant now wishes to alter the dimensions of the building in respect of which approval has issued to him under the Scheme. In these circumstances, a confirmatory letter from the relevant local authority or, in its absence, revised planning permission from that authority will be required before grant...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (23 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 November 2010 and full payments totalling €783.84 and €4,703.01 issued in respect of 2010 and 2011 respectively. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (23 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy is aware the negotiations on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy are not yet finalised so that it is not possible to say with any certainty what the outcome will be in respect of any aspect of the new single payment regime. However, I can confirm that there are no proposals at present to deviate from the current situation where eligible area planted with forest from...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (23 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 November 2010 and full payments totalling €685.55 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, must be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Disease Controls (23 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is officially free of Brucellosis since 2009 (our last case was in 2006). The rules relating to Brucellosis provide that, even where the disease has been eradicated, a reduced testing programme must be implemented for a period of 5 years. In view of this, my Department has scaled down the Brucellosis testing programme as follows: - the age threshold for annual round testing has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Union Solidarity Fund (23 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that the EU Solidarity Fund, which has been mentioned as a possible source of further support, would not be available in these circumstances. The EU Solidarity Fund, is in the main, confined to major disasters which have lasting repercussions on economic stability, living conditions and the natural environment. The EU Solidarity Fund only intervenes for non-insurable public...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Security (23 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Department's agricultural attaché in Rome combines his function as the liaison officer with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations with other consular and trade responsibilities including assisting and promoting Ireland's agri-food business interests in Italy and neighbouring countries. Ireland plays a full and active role in all aspects of the work of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (23 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has a strict system of transport rules in respect of both national and international journeys. The current Irish regulation in relation to the approval of ships for livestock transport is set higher than that which applies in other EU Member States. Detailed inspections are required before approval is given to ships transporting animals. The requirements for approval of dedicated...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (23 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: I have actively monitored the evolving situation in recent weeks arising from unusual weather patterns and as set out below have not been slow in taking steps not only to mitigate its immediate effects, insofar as possible, but also to avoid difficulties into the future. In terms of the imported fodder transport scheme, following consultation with Met Eireann, Co Ops, the farming...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Legal Costs (23 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department actively manages its legal affairs and constantly seeks to minimise legal costs. While legal costs incurred by State Bodies are an operational matter for the Bodies themselves, my Department promotes early engagement and active management of legal matters concerning them.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (22 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: May I respond?

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (22 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: I am happy to outline the status of the fodder issues at the moment, which are serious and have been for some time. The fodder crisis began this time last year because we really had no summer from June onwards. Parts of west and north County Cork, and County Kerry had only three days without rain from the start of June to the end of August. It was an extraordinary weather pattern that then...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (22 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: I hope not.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (22 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: That is exactly what is happening. On the amount, it will be €250 or a higher amount, if deemed appropriate, but it cannot be higher than €1,000. In the vast majority of cases, the fine will be €250. This is a warning, essentially. The notice will also indicate what needs to be done to solve the problem, which is what is required. It is a warning, an instruction and...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (22 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: Amendment No.61 deals with regulations relating to the census of animals. As previously drafted, if a person does not comply with an animal census, he or she is guilty of a lower, class B offence. The amendment makes it clear that persons have a period of 14 days within which to make the return before an offence can come into existence. This eliminates the possibility that persons can be...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (22 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: Amendment No.62 amends section 73. There was concern that, while I indicated that there would not be new fees or charges imposed on farmers arising from the Animal Health and Welfare Bill, some future Minister might use the Bill as a vehicle to impose charges on farmers. Therefore, there is now a safeguard in place that states that such a charge cannot be bigger than the cost of the service...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (22 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: Amendments Nos. 63 to 65, inclusive, amend section 74 of the Bill. They are minor technical amendments designed to clarify that organisations with which the Minister enters into a service agreement are not permitted to make regulations but may operate or enforce regulations made by the Minister.