Results 31,461-31,480 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: Under 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, eligible applicants are 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. While the holding of the person named was confirmed as having satisfied the...

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

Simon Coveney: Under 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, the holdings of eligible applicants are 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. While the holding of the person named was confirmed as having...

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

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2012 National Reserve. The 2012 National Reserve caters for farmers who commenced farming after 17th May, 2010. Applicants are required to submit a 2012 Single Payment application form detailing all lands which they are currently farming. In addition, applicants are required to meet certain criteria with...

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

Simon Coveney: The inspection process identified an over claim of 2.16 hectares in this case. Where an over claim of greater than 3% but less than 20% is identified, as was the case here, the governing EU Regulations require that a penalty of twice the difference between the area claimed and that found must be applied. The person named appealed the penalty. This appeal has been processed with no change in...

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

Simon Coveney: I refer the Deputy to my Dáil statement of 14th March and the report which I released on the same day on the ‘Equine DNA and Mislabelling of Processed Beef Investigation’. That report provides a full update on the investigation into this matter and outlines the conclusions and recommendations which can now be drawn. During the course of the intensive investigation of this...

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

Simon Coveney: A review of forestry policy undertaken by my Department is currently in the process of a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), which includes consultation with statutory bodies and the general public. It is anticipated that the process will be concluded by the end of July after which it is planned to issue the report, taking account of any further inputs received during the SEA process.

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

Simon Coveney: The Irish Seafood National Programme 2007-2013 is a framework programme under the National Development Plan covering supports to the seafood sector that are not co-funded by the EU. Most support to the seafood sector is co-funded by the European Fisheries Fund and is covered by the Seafood Development Programme 2007-2013. Financial supports for the construction, installation and...

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

Simon Coveney: All applications for aquaculture licences are dealt with under the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act, as amended. The provisions of the Strategic Environmental Assessment Regulations are applied to such applications where appropriate. Following assessment by my Department of an application for the cultivation of finfish in Galway Bay it was deemed...

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

Simon Coveney: My present plans for the development of the seafood sector are set out in the Seafood Development Programme 2007-2013, and the complementary Irish Seafood National Programme 2007-2013, which identify the investment priorities for the development of the sector up to 2015. The Seafood Development Programme includes the overwhelming majority of initiatives for the development of the sector....

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

Simon Coveney: I want to assure the deputy that throughout this CAP reform process I have continuously engaged with all relevant stakeholders. I try at all times, subject to diary and time constraints, to meet any and all interested parties to discuss issues of mutual concern and when I am not available, senior Department officials are always available to hear concerns and proposals that stakeholders may...

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

Simon Coveney: Against the background of the abolition of milk quotas on the 1 of April 2015, my Department has been providing a range of supports to assist the dairy sector in its efforts to fully exploit its potential for expansion and development. It is clear that in the context of a quota free production environment, Ireland’s natural advantages in terms of climate and grassland provide a...

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

Simon Coveney: The maintenance of an efficient and viable cereals sector in Ireland is clearly very important to the well being of the agri-food industry. Indigenous production of cereals is of course, an important part of primary agriculture production. In addition to generating an income for our tillage farmers, the cereals sector is a key source of grain for the milling and malting industry and feeding...

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

Simon Coveney: My Department has worked closely with both the pig and poultry sectors as they have adapted to the introduction of new animal welfare requirements in 2012 and in 2013. Significant supports, in the form of Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS), for egg producers and pig farmers were put in place and a total of €32 million to these sectors was made available under the Rural...

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

Simon Coveney: I assume the Deputy is referring to the price of meat products (beef, pigs and lamb) which my department reports on a regular basis to the EU Commission. The following table shows the average market prices for beef, pigs & lamb for the first ten weeks of 2013, together with the corresponding prices for 2012: Prices exclude VAT 2013 2012 Beef (R3 Steers) €4.01 / Kg €3.88...

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

Simon Coveney: The Loose Sow Housing Directive came into force on 1 January 2013. In order to comply with the requirements of this Directive many pig farmers had to convert existing pig units or construct new builds. In this context my Department made contact with Local Authorities during 2012 with a view to ascertaining the number of planning permission applications received from pig farmers in respect...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 487, 489, 493 and 494 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020 Strategy (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 488 and 490 together. I remain fully committed to the growth targets set out in Food Harvest 2020 and I am very confident that these targets will be achieved. The progress achieved to date on the Food Harvest targets justifies my confidence. At end 2012, the value of both primary output and exports are estimated to have increased by 23% and 12%...

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

Simon Coveney: The Food Safety Authority of Ireland, under the aegis of the Minister for Health, has overall responsibility for the enforcement of food safety in Ireland. This includes the enforcement of food labelling regulations. It carries out this remit through service contracts with my Department and other agencies including the Health Service Executive, Local Authorities, the Sea-Fisheries...

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

Simon Coveney: The Deputy will be aware that the Council of Agriculture Ministers successfully adopted a General Approach on CAP Reform by a strong qualified majority at its meeting in Brussels on 18 and 19 March last. In my view, what has been adopted by Council on the key outstanding issue from an Irish perspective, relating to the distribution of Direct Payments, represents a very good outcome for...

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

Simon Coveney: Responsibility for co-ordinating the enforcement of food legislation in Ireland rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and is discharged by Official Agencies which operate under Service Contract to the authority. The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and the Marine Institute act as Official Agencies under service contract with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and enforce the...