Results 31,721-31,740 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals (5 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 and who applied for and were refused derogation in this regard. The person named subsequently availed of the option to appeal to the independently chaired DAS Appeals Committee. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Appointments to State Boards (5 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Since May 2011, a notification has been placed on my Department’s website inviting expressions of interest from persons interested in being appointed to the boards of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department. On 7 September 2012 last, I placed an advertisement in the National Newspapers inviting expressions of interest. All expressions of interest lapse at the end of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tug Boat Services (5 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The provision and engagement of a tug boat service at Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre is a commercial and private transaction between vessel owners and tug boat service providers. Although my Department does not play any role in the provision of tug boat services, I can confirm that I have endeavoured to encourage and facilitate the provision of such services by private enterprise through...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (5 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Earnings outside of agriculture do not affect entitlements to the Single Farm Payment or to Disadvantaged Area Payments. Total income is assessed by the Revenue Commissioners for income tax and any queries concerning taxation regulations should be directed to them.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Reform (5 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The reform of the single farm payment arises in the context of the negotiations on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, where perhaps the most contentious issue is the question of how direct payments should be redistributed between farmers within Member States, by a process referred to as ‘internal convergence’. The Commission has proposed a movement to a system of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Eligibility (5 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: In order to be eligible under the Single Payment Scheme and other area based schemes, an applicant must ensure that all agricultural land is maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition (GAEC). Farmers can keep grassland in GAEC by conducting an agricultural activity on it such as grazing, harvesting forage crops, or by topping. Grasslands continue to be eligible where it is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (5 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 439 and 440 together. In the context of delivering the Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme and other area based schemes, my Department is required to carry out an annual round of inspections covering both the eligibility of the land declared to draw down payments and also cross compliance aspects, to ensure compliance with EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Felling Licences Applications (5 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The applicant submitted a felling licence application, no. GFL12173, which was received by the Forest Service on 6 March 2012. In his report on 25 May 2012, the District Inspector recommended refusal of the licence because the plantation is not ready for thinning and there was a high risk of wind-throw. Following discussions between the Inspector and the applicant’s forester, on 7...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ash Dieback Threat (5 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: In total there are now 46 confirmed cases of the disease. Of these 26 are in forestry plantations in Counties Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Galway, Kildare, Kilkenny, Leitrim, Longford, Meath, Tipperary and Waterford. There are 14 Horticultural Nurseries that have tested positive for the disease, three samples from roadside landscaping have tested positive as well as one Garden Centre, one private...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (5 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, the holdings of eligible applicants were 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. As the applicant has not as yet demonstrated that the holding...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (5 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 2010 and full payments totalling €1,050.30 and €3,629.48 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: Harbours and Piers (5 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The harbour at Dunmore East is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department. Funding is made available on an annual basis by my Department to the Fishery Harbour Centres, including Dunmore East, via the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Capital Development Programme. The allocation of funding for projects within the 2013...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Diseases of Animals Act 1966: Motion (28 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: I can spend as long discussing the issue as the Chairman wants. This is a formality which has happened every year since 2001. Legislation has applied since 2001 which allows me to authorise officers to conduct the relevant inspections required. The reason this needs to be renewed on a yearly basis is that it was supposed to be a temporary measure while new animal health and welfare...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Diseases of Animals Act 1966: Motion (28 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: Yes, hopefully.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Diseases of Animals Act 1966: Motion (28 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: Yes. We have spent a lot of time working on the Animal Health and Welfare Bill. At present we are discussing the powers that authorised officers will have in terms of entering premises and so on. There will be a more detailed description of what authorised officers should and should not do than currently exists. In the meantime we need to allow authorised officers to get on with their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Business of Joint Committee (28 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: Yes, we can come back to the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Business of Joint Committee (28 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: I am in the hands of the committee. As I said in the Dáil yesterday to Deputy Ó Cuív, I have no problem giving any member of the committee, or anybody in the Oireachtas, a briefing in private or in public session here. Obviously there is a scheduling issue for the committee because it will want to ensure that I can attend. I want to come here when we conclude our...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (28 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, 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. As the applicant has not as yet demonstrated that the holding satisfies...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bloodstock Industry (28 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: A protocol for the export of Irish horses to China was signed in June of last year between the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China and my Department. This protocol sets out the veterinary health conditions that will apply to import permits issued by the Chinese authorities and also to the health certificate under which...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Meat Processing Plant Inspections (28 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department maintains a permanent presence in its approved slaughter plants. Other Department approved meat plants are visited regularly. The frequency of the official controls in plants other than slaughter plants, which focus primarily on food safety requirements, is determined by a risk assessment, as required under EU legislation, which is conducted for each plant. The outcomes of such...