Results 31,541-31,560 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (20 Mar 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: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals (20 Mar 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 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. The applicant subsequently availed of the option to appeal to the independently chaired DAS Appeals...

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

Simon Coveney: The inspection process identified an over claim of 5.6 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. In this case, a deduction of €1801.47 resulted. My Department understands that...

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

Simon Coveney: The situation in the Irish beef sector is encouraging. Prices for cattle have been increasing recently, with a base payment of €4.35 per kg being quoted last week by factories and Bord Bia quality assured cattle also finding a ready market at present. On the export front, there is strong demand from customers in our main markets (UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain etc.) which is...

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

Simon Coveney: In order to comply with EU requirements, the application was one of a number selected for inspection. This inspection resulted in findings of an over-declaration in area of over 50% under the Single Payment Scheme, which, under the terms and conditions of the Scheme, resulted in no payment being due. The amount of this payment would have been €6,016.05. In addition, due to the level of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (20 Mar 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. This application has been recently finalised following resolution of outstanding matters relating to the Agri Environment Scheme restrictions on the holding. Payment will...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety Authority Investigations (20 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.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Expenditure (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The 2011 audited annual report and accounts of Bord na gCon have not been laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas as yet because they only reached my Department yesterday. I have to refer the Deputy to Bord na gCon if he wishes to learn the reasons for the delay. The 2011 annual report and accounts will now be considered in detail and will be laid before both Houses at the earliest...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Remit (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Bord na gCon is a commercial state body, established in 1958, under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. The Board has wide powers to regulate all aspects of greyhound racing. The Board of Bord na gCon, comprising of seven members - a Chairman and six ordinary members, is responsible for leading and...

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

Simon Coveney: Insofar as participants in the Single Payment Scheme are concerned, the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme include the following provision in relation to fencing: “There must be appropriate fencing for the farming enterprise. Appropriate fencing means stock proof fencing that will control the applicant’s animals and also the neighbouring farmer’s animals. In mountain/hill...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals (20 Mar 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. However, my Department has now been in direct contact with the applicant in relation to the additional sheep...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 28 November 2012. The initial processing of the applications has been completed and acknowledgement letters have issued to all applicants. The detailed actions listed in each application are currently being recorded and all applications will be ranked and selected according to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Further to the Government’s decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be considered for sale, the National Treasury Management Agency, via its NewERA Unit, has been actively engaged with Coillte, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department to examine the financial and other implications of a potential transaction....

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

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in December 2007 and received payments for the first four 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 the administrative check an area discrepancy...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Commission has proposed moving to a flat-rate payments system. This would, in the case of several Member States (including Ireland), result in significant transfers between farmers. I believe there is a need for redistribution but I am concerned that moving to a flat rate as proposed would be harmful for the Irish agricultural sector and the Food Harvest 2020 strategy. Other Member...

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

Simon Coveney: The total number of entitlements transferred by sale without land during the 2007 to 2012 scheme years is 132,525. This represents 3.08% of the total number of entitlements held by all farmers. This figure includes entitlements that have been transferred by sale more than once in this same period. Under the Commission proposal, for those member states like Ireland currently applying the...

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

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in January 2008 and received payments for the first four 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 for 2012 in this case...

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

Simon Coveney: The person named registered 10 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (20 Mar 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 €833.32 and €4,999.99 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: Departmental Offices (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department has no proposals to close its office in Roscommon or any other of its Regional Offices throughout the country. However, in the light of a recent review of Regional Office operations, I am strongly of the view that significant efficiencies and cost savings can be made by centralising in one or possibly two locations the administrative support available to the veterinary,...