Results 31,521-31,540 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Let me deal with that question first. I should have dealt with it in the first round. I will give an absolute guarantee on behalf of the Government - under no circumstances will the Government look to introduce a Cypriot-style levy on deposits to raise money.

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I have discussed this matter with the Minister for Finance. From the Government's point of view, I am clear as crystal. We will not target bank deposits for any purpose. I cannot be any clearer. I grasp only too well the difficulties that Cyprus faces. I spent many hours last night in Brussels trying to put a Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, deal together. I spent a great deal of time...

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: -----into a scaremongering session for Ireland and Irish banks.

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy should be more responsible.

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Michael McGrath should be more responsible.

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy. I will provide some clarity on the corporation tax issue. It is important that people not try to muddy the waters. As part of an agreement to finance a programme in Cyprus, it and the other countries in the Eurogroup signed up to an increase in its corporation tax rates. The Deputy will remember that there was significant pressure on Ireland to do the same before,...

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: This is a crisis for a country that is entering a bailout, just as we faced a crisis that was very costly for the Irish people.

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: We are trying to undo some of the damage that was done when those decisions were made. The Parliament in Cyprus has rejected the deal done by its Government and the Eurogroup. I must say that this is understandable, but Cyprus now has a responsibility to find an alternative way to raise money. Those alternatives are being discussed today and will be discussed again tomorrow. Banks in...

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: On the proposal on the redistributive payment, which is being described as a front-loaded payment, this is essentially a top-up on a farmer's single farm payment for the first 30 ha. or 32 ha. in the case of Ireland if we opt for the full limit of an average area. This is an optional tool we may or may not decide to use.

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I believe it is 20% of the overall envelope but I will have to check the figure. On coupling, considerable pressure was applied to significantly increase the potential to use coupled payments. The Presidency's proposal, which was the same as the Commission's proposal, was to apply a 5% limit in respect of countries such as Ireland that had decoupled and a 10% limit for other countries...

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I share the Deputy's concerns about the plight of Cyprus. Many people view the images from the island with great concern and Irish people can relate to the events taking place in Cyrus given what has occurred here in the past five years. Deputy Michael McGrath is trying to turn a crisis for a small country in Europe into a problem in Ireland. His approach is irresponsible and not founded...

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Let me set the record straight on a couple of issues. There is no evidence to suggest that what is taking place in Cyprus is having any impact in Ireland, whether in the financial markets, for example, in respect of the cost of funds, or on bank deposits. That is a simple fact. It is also a fact that the decision to raid deposits in Cyprus, as the Deputy describes it, was proposed by the...

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: We have here a country which made a decision that was not forced on it.

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The difficulty facing Cyprus is the condition, as part of the bailout, that it raise almost €7 billion to trigger a financing mechanism of €10 billion under a programme. It needs to find a way of raising this money and it proposed to do so by imposing a levy on deposits of less than and more than €100,000.

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The proposal was rejected by the Cypriot Parliament and Cyprus is now seeking an alternative means of raising the money. Ireland, as a fellow European Union member state and holder of the Presidency, will monitor the position on a daily basis and assist in this crisis in any way we can, as will the Commission.

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The agreement on the CAP that was reached last night is a major stepping stone in the negotiations on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, which have been ongoing for over four years. Ministers from the 27 member states of the EU accepted a package of proposals tabled by the Irish Presidency and successfully concluded what is known as a general approach on the CAP reform package. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Suckler Welfare Scheme Payments (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named registered 33 animals for the 2011 Suckler Welfare Scheme and 41 animals for the 2012 Scheme. Payment in full has issued, in 3 instalments on 15th December 2011; 20th February 2012 and 12th November 2012, in respect of 32 animals for the 2011 Scheme year. The 2011 application included one set of twins and under the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme only one payment is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Appeals (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in May 2008 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. Following an on-farm Inspection in October 2010 a 50% penalty...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Aid (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I have no plans at present to introduce a grant scheme to assist farmers who wish to carry out drainage works on their land.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Suckler Welfare Scheme Eligibility (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named registered 11 animals for the 2011 Suckler Welfare Scheme. The Terms and Conditions of the Scheme require that applicants undertake to carry out and notify to my Department the requisite measures for the full 5 year duration of this Scheme. In August 2011, applicants were informed of the requirement to notify the details of such measures within one year from the date of birth...