Results 31,421-31,440 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Development (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131, 142 and 147 together. Public Policy for the development of aquaculture is set out in a number of public documents. These are Food Harvest 2020, Our Ocean Wealth, Steering a New Course – Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Irish Seafood Industry 2007-2013, the Seafood Development Programme 2007-2013, the Irish Seafood National...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Milk Quota Purchases (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The issue raised by the Deputy has been addressed in a Statutory Instrument (SI 90 of 2013) which I signed on 14 March 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The negotiations on the reform of the CAP have made considerable progress across a number of fronts in recent weeks. Following the agreement by the European Council on the Multiannual Financial Framework in early February, the European Parliament two weeks ago agreed its position on the CAP reform package. This was followed last week by the successful adoption by the Council of Agriculture...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Coillte Teoranta was established in accordance with the Forestry Act 1988, under which a number of powers in relation to the oversight of the company are assigned to me as the Minister with responsibility for forestry. Coillte is also subject to the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. This Code, which was revised and updated in 2009, sets out the governance framework agreed...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy Negotiations (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the overarching policy framework which governs the fisheries and wider seafood sectors in the European Union. First put in place in 1983, it has been subject to reviews every 10 years, and is currently undergoing a reform process the important elements of which are expected to conclude during the Irish Presidency. The CFP is essentially three separate...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety Standards Regulation (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department has received a number of complaints in this area, some of which have been non-specific in nature. Information received in relation to alleged illegal activities in this State is taken seriously and investigated as appropriate by my Department and in certain cases by the Gardai. It must also be noted however that some claims have been made in the public domain in relation to this...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The negotiations on the reform of the CAP are informed by the need to support strong economic performance through greater market orientation while at the same time ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources. In this regard, direct payments support agricultural incomes as the sector adjusts to the reality of greater exposure to global markets, while market support measures continue to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The negotiations on the reform of the CAP are informed by the need to support strong economic performance through greater market orientation while at the same time ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources. In this regard, direct payments support agricultural incomes as the sector adjusts to the reality of greater exposure to global markets, while market support measures continue to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I am very satisfied with the progress made to date on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. To start with, the European Council agreement on 7/8 February on the next EU multiannual financial framework secures the necessary funding for the continuation of a strong CAP. Moreover, the agreement last week of the 27 Member States in the EU Council of Ministers represents an important...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Further to the Government decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be considered for sale, Coillte Board and management have engaged with NewERA, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department to examine the financial and other implications of developing the potential of Coillte’s forest assets. Substantial work has been...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Coillte is a commercial state owned enterprise established in 1989 in accordance with the Forestry Act 1988. The shares are held by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and myself. As the Minister with responsibility for forestry, there are a number of powers assigned to me under the Forestry Act 1988. I also respond to Parliamentary Questions on policy matters relating to Coillte....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The European Council agreement on the Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF) provides some €313m for Ireland per year under Pillar 2 of the CAP for the period 2014 - 2020. This includes a special allocation of €100 million, over the full period, negotiated in the final stages of the talks. The MFF provides for flexibility regarding the co-financing rates for Pillar 2 support...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Breeding Regulations (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The hen harrier is a species of high conservation concern. It is listed in Annex I of the EU Birds Directive, which provides a legislative framework for the conservation of the species. Six Special Protection Areas (SPAs) have been designated under the Birds Directive for the protection of the species in Ireland. The Hen Harrier Working Group was established in 2006 and comprised...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety Standards Regulation (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The report on the ‘Equine DNA and Mislabelling of Processed Beef Investigation’, which I published on 14th March, includes details of the companies that came to my Department’s attention during this investigation and the resulting actions taken by the Department. The normal procedure in my Department is that a suspension notice on a food business operator is not...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Labelling (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware the Minister for Health has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation and the new EU food information regulations that were adopted by the Council of Health Ministers in December 2011. However my Department plays an important role in the labelling of food together with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). In my capacity as Chairman...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Quotas (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Irish vessels are currently precluded from landing Sea Bass under the Bass (Conservation of Stocks) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 230 of 2006) and the Bass (Restriction on Sale) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 367 of 2007). The complete ban for the commercial fishing of sea bass applies to Irish fishing vessels in all areas. In accordance with the provisions of EU Council Regulation 812/2004...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Schemes (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under the EU Regulations governing the scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. Successive EU audits have made it absolutely clear that compliance with the Regulations must be strictly adhered to and that all...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Labelling (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The report on ‘Equine DNA and Mislabelling of Processed Beef Investigation’ which I released on 14th March 2013 sets out a range of actions being taken in relation to this issue at both national and EU level. These include a programme of DNA testing of beef products and testing of horse meat for the presence of phenylbutazone. Meat traders/agents will be required to register...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: In total, my Department wrote to in excess of 10,000 beneficiaries under the 2011 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme whose holdings had not achieved the minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare, as required under the Terms and Conditions of the 2012 Scheme. In response, my Department received 9,635 applications from farmers seeking derogation from this requirement. These...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Further to the Government decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be considered for sale, Coillte Board and management have engaged with NewERA, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and this Department to examine the financial and other implications of developing the potential of Coillte’s forest assets. Substantial work has been...