Results 30,541-30,560 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disability Act Employment Targets (22 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Disability Act 2005 stipulates, among other things, that a public body shall ensure, unless there is good reason to the contrary for not doing so, that not less than 3% of people employed by it are persons with disabilities. My Department is complying with this statutory target for the employment of people with a disability. The most recent data available shows that 3.3% of staff have...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (22 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: In order to be eligible under the Single Payment Scheme and other area based schemes, an applicant must ensure that all agricultural land is maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition (GAEC). A Cross Compliance inspection relating to the Single Farm Payment was carried out on the holding concerned on 27 February 2013. When conducting inspections, my Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry Issues (22 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The report on the ‘Equine DNA and Mislabelling of Processed Beef Investigation’, published on 14 March, includes details of the companies that came to my Department’s attention during this investigation and the actions taken by the Department. Operations in a total of four plants were suspended (in some cases on a voluntary basis) for varying periods arising from the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (22 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department is on the point of finalising the processing of applications received under the Agri-environmental Options Scheme on the basis of the information submitted by the applicants. The Scheme Terms and Conditions clearly set out the information requirements to be submitted with each application by the closing date. My Department have been in contact with applicants with a view to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (22 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 €531.42 and €4,999.96 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: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (22 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 2010 and full payments totalling €1,666.66 and €4,999.98 issued in respect of 2010 and 2011 respectively. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (22 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: An in-depth review of national forest policy is currently being finalised. This review, arising from a Government commitment that such be undertaken, commenced in 2010 and was undertaken by a group consisting of representatives of the forestry sector. The review of forestry policy is currently in the process of a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), which includes consultation with...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (22 May 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 (AEOS) and on foot of this I announced the re-opening of the scheme. I decided on a maximum payment of €4,000 per annum for individual applicants which, on the basis of previous experience in implementing the scheme, indicates...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Penalties (22 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The final instalment of €1,815.46 of an outstanding REPS 3 debt that arose in 2009 was netted against a Disadvantaged Area Payments on 25th September 2012. In addition the person named joined the Organic Farming Scheme in June 2008 and received payments for the first four years of the contract. The Organic Farming Scheme is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Credit Availability (22 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy might note that significant progress has already been made towards achieving the Food Harvest 2020 targets. The Food Harvest High Level Implementation Committee, which I chair, monitors progress and by end 2012, the value of overall primary production had risen by 21%, (2020 target 33%) and the value of exports had increased by 12%, (2020 target 42%). By end 2010, the latest data...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (22 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: I am particularly conscious of the difficulties facing farmers, prompted by the prolonged period of adverse weather, which has cumulated in severe fodder shortages in many areas and I have taken a number of steps to assist. Specifically, I have introduced the Imported Fodder Transport Scheme, designed to assist towards the transport costs of imported fodder and maintenance of stocking...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (21 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 20 November 2012 and an acknowledgement letter has issued to the person named. The processing of all applications is nearing completion and I expect to be in a position to inform all applicants of the outcome very shortly. In the event that any queries arise on the application of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (21 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 €785.66 and €4,713.89 issued in respect of 2010 and 2011 respectively. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases Issues (21 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: A notification (ER5) issued to the herdowner concerned on 26 February 2013 requesting him to have a contiguous herd test completed by 3 April 2013. The test was not completed by this date nor has it been completed to date. Accordingly, an Overdue C letter issued on 8 April 2013 and, in accordance with normal practice, his herd was automatically suspended. The herdowner made first point of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry Development (21 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: Regulation (EU) No 227/2013 of 13 March 2013 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 introduced a relaxation of the restrictions on the use of Gillnets in Area VIa. Article 1 introduces an addendum to 850/98, Article 29 (d)(6) which permits catching Lesser Spotted Dogfish in Gillnets greater than 90mm, provided that: (a) they are only deployed within 3 nautical miles of the coastline and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (21 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 2011 and has received full payment totalling €771.28 in respect of 2011. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale (21 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: Further to the Government’s 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 have worked to examine the financial and other implications of developing the potential of Coillte’s forest assets. This examination included the identification of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (21 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named is one of a number of applicants under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, whose cases were impacted by the requirement that their holdings must have achieved a minimum stocking density in 2011 of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare and who applied for and were refused derogation in this regard. While the person named was been informed of the option to appeal to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Lands (21 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 land transactions, are the responsibility of the company. Coillte has advised that a request in relation to the details provided by the Deputy had been conveyed to the company some weeks ago. I understand that the company has requested that the school...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (21 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 4 December 2012 and an acknowledgement letter has issued to the person named. The processing of all applications is nearing completion and I expect to be in a position to inform all applicants of the outcome very shortly. In the event that any queries arise on the application of...