Results 31,681-31,700 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (6 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Despite the challenging budgetary constraints facing my Department, last year I secured an additional €20 million annually to fund the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) and on foot of this I announced the re-opening of the scheme. I decided on a maximum payment of €4,000 per annum for individual applicants which, on the basis of previous experience in implementing the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbour Authority Properties (6 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together. As I have said on a number of occasions, Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is first and foremost a working fishery harbour. Its business customers include business tenants, fishing vessel owners and crew, and full access is required for commercial traffic servicing the fishing side and its various ancillary enterprises. A wide range of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme Implementation (6 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy may be aware that the then Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources announced the proposed REFIT for Biomass Technologies (REFIT III) on 24 May 2010. State Aid approval was received from DG Comp in respect of the proposed tariffs on 18 October 2011. My Department was consistently supportive of the efforts to introduce these REFIT tariffs. The tariffs apply to a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (6 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in June 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: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (6 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1 November 2010 and full payments totalling €476.63 and €2,844.00 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (6 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 2011 and full payment totalling €1,333.31 issued in respect of 2011. Under the EU regulations governing the scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Natural Heritage Areas (6 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Designation of Natural Heritage Areas, NHA, is primarily within the remit of the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. Proposed NHAs were published on a non-statutory basis in 1995 and there are no mandatory farming conditions imposed on pNHAs.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Alternative Farm Enterprises (6 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Bioenergy Scheme was introduced as an Exchequer funded pilot scheme in 2007 to support the establishment of the energy crops miscanthus and willow. The pilot scheme ran until 2009 and was replaced from 2010 with a 50% EU co-funded Scheme which was subsequently increased to an 85% EU co-funding rate from 1 January 2012. Up to the end of 2012 some 3,250 hectares of energy crops have been...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals (6 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: In the intervening period since my reply to the previous Question on this case, the matter has been resolved and processing of the 2012 DAS application was recently finalised and payment issued directly to the nominated bank account.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (6 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in April 2009 and received payments for the first three 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 was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (6 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. These checks have been completed in this case and the 75%...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Suckler Welfare Scheme Payments (6 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named registered 5 animals for the 2011 Suckler Welfare Scheme and 18 animals for the 2012 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 the Scheme. While data were received in respect of most of the animals born during 2012, the required weaning...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (6 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The holding of the person named has recently been confirmed as having met the minimum stocking density requirements of the Scheme, following receipt of outstanding evidence relating to sheep on the holding. This enabled processing of the application to be finalised, with payment issuing on the 14 February 2013, directly to the nominated bank account.

Topical Issues: Fish Farming (5 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I understand that some people are concerned about this project, while many people support it. When one is doing something new in Ireland, concerns are always expressed, which is as it should be. That is why we need to follow a procedure, which we are doing. That procedure is consistent with the legislation. I will take the advice of my Department and the scientists in the Marine Institute...

Finance Bill 2013: Allocation of Time: Motion (5 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders: (1) The proceedings in the Select Sub-Committee on Finance on the Finance Bill 2013 shall be brought to a conclusion in accordance with the following timetable:- Date: Proceedings: To conclude not later than: Wednesday, 6 March Part 1 (sections 1 to 8) 12.30 p.m. Part 1 (sections 9 to 20) 5.30 p.m. Part 1 (sections 21 to...

Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Financial Resolution (5 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I move:THAT the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 which provides for the imposition in accordance with that Act of local property tax; for the establishment and maintenance by the Revenue Commissioners of a register of residential properties in the State; for the cessation of the household charge; and for the collection of any arrears of household charge be amended in the manner and to...

Diseases of Animals Act 1966: Motion (5 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I move:That Dáil Éireann resolves that section 17A (inserted by section 2(1) of the Diseases of Animals (Amendment) Act 2001 (No. 3 of 2001)) of the Diseases of Animals Act 1966 (No. 6 of 1966) shall continue in force for the period ending on 8 March 2014.

Topical Issues: Fish Farming (5 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I see aquaculture as a crucial component of the Government's Food Harvest 2020 strategy. To expand the production of Irish organic farmed salmon, I tasked BIM to investigate the creation of new fish farming production areas in deeper waters. The placement of farms in deep waters is designed to ensure there is no impact on Natura 2000 sites, no significant environmental or visual impact, and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Issues (5 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The legislative responsibility of my Department covers farmed animals only. However, while foxes do not come under the remit of my Department, I am nevertheless aware of reports of the number of foxes living in urban areas in recent times. The fox is not a protected species under the Wildlife Acts (1976-2012). My Department does not have plans to implement a control programme for foxes....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Issues (5 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Animal Health & Welfare Bill has been passed by the Senate and has completed Committee Stage in the Dail. While the Bill is for the most part general in its application, its provisions do apply during the transport of animals. In view of the fact that the transport of animals is governed by Council Regulation No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport, which is...