Results 30,961-30,980 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Contracts (2 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: One Assistant Secretary General and one Principal Officer have been re-hired on a part-time, contract basis which are due to expire at the end of the EU Presidency on 28 June 2013. Payments are calculated on a daily rate taking into account normal pension abatement rules. Three temporary Forestry Inspectors, Grade 3 are employed on a fixed term contract which is due to expire October 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Contracts (2 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: One Assistant Secretary General who retired on the 22 October 2010 has been re-engaged by my Department since 25 October 2010 on a part-time contract basis which is due to expire at the end of the EU Presidency on 28 June 2013. One Principal Officer who retired on the 30 November 2009 has since been re-engaged from 1 October 2012 on a part-time contract basis to work on specific matters...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (2 May 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. As the person named has not as yet demonstrated that the holding...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive Issues (2 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was the subject of a nitrates inspection by my Department, on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, on 15 February 2012. This inspection recorded breaches under the nitrates regulations relating to the inadequate collection of manure, inadequate management of storage facilities for manure and the stockpiling of farmyard manure on land in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Applications (2 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named is one of a number of applicants under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, whose cases are impacted by the requirement to have achieved a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare in 2011 and who applied for and were refused derogation in this regard. The person named subsequently availed of the option to appeal to the independently chaired DAS...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Sector Pensions Expenditure (2 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of staff who retired from my Department in the relevant period is set out in the table following. It is important to note that these are gross lump sum payments and may be subject to certain deductions. The parallel information in respect of the State bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the bodies themselves. Gross Lump...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (1 May 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 payments totalling €1,666.65 and €4,999.98 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Special Areas of Conservation Designation (1 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The implementation of the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive, under which Special Protection Areas (SPA’s) and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC’s) are designated, is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Farmers can be compensated under the Natura 2000 Measure of Ireland’s Rural Development Plan 2006 –...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (1 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in December 2007 and received payments for the first five years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. These checks have now been completed in this case and the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (1 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: I am acutely aware of the difficulties being experienced by some farmers as a result of recent unseasonable weather, with difficult conditions experienced on farms last summer having been compounded by an extended winter. In light of the difficulties experienced by farmers in sourcing fodder supplies, last week I announced the allocation of €1 million to fund the Imported Fodder...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Special Areas of Conservation Designation (1 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: There are a number of Special Protection Areas (SPA) designated for the protection of the hen harrier where restrictions apply to planting and other developments. Any future afforestation within the SPA must take into account the results of recent Hen Harrier breeding and distribution surveys, the availability of suitable habitat, existing forest cover, age profile of existing forests, and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hardship Grant Scheme Eligibility (1 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under the Hardship Grant Scheme, assistance is available from my Department to eligible herdowners who are restricted under the TB and Brucellosis Eradication Scheme. The scheme is designed to alleviate the additional feed costs incurred by eligible owner(s) whose holdings are restricted during the period from the 1 November to 30 April, payments are subject to the schemes criteria. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Special Areas of Conservation Designation (1 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: As previously advised the application referred to is in respect of a site located within Kenmare Bay which is designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive (Natura 2000 site). All applications in ‘Natura’ areas are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. My...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (30 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named is one of a number of applicants under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, whose cases are impacted by the requirement of a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare and who applied for and were refused derogation in this regard. While the applicant has been informed of the option to appeal to the independently chaired DAS Appeals Committee, to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Premium (30 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: Our records show that the applicant is registered with the Department’s Online Services. In October 2012, the Forest Service informed its clients who were registered online (including this applicant) that their future premium payment applications would be processed online and that therefore it would not be sending paper Form 4s (i.e. the annual premium application form) for 2013 to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Premium (30 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: Forest Service records show that two forestry premium claim forms (Form 4s) were posted to the applicant in December 2012 and April 2013. Neither of these forms has been returned. In order for the applicant to receive payment, the Form 4s should be signed and posted to the Premium Section, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Johnstown Castle Estate, Wexford.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Applications (30 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named is one of a number of applicants under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, whose cases are impacted by the requirement of a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare in 2011 and who applied for and were refused derogation in this regard. While the applicant has been informed of the option to appeal to the independently chaired DAS Appeals Committee,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (30 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: I am acutely aware of the difficulties being experienced by some farmers as a result of recent unseasonable weather, with difficult conditions experienced on farms last summer having been compounded by an extended winter. In light of the difficulties experienced by farmers in sourcing fodder supplies, last week I announced the allocation of €1 million to fund the Imported Fodder...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (30 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: The European Commission proposal to restrict the use of neonicotinoid insecticides was discussed at the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on 14/15 March 2013 and the resulting vote was inconclusive, with 14 Member States refusing to support the measures proposed by the Commission. Accordingly, the matter was tabled at an Appeal Committee meeting held on 29 April...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (30 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st November 2010 and full payments totalling €760.06 and €4,560.35 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...