Results 32,021-32,040 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety Standards Regulation (12 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: I have no plans to introduce a food ombudsman to arbitrate on the enforcement of private contracts between suppliers and retailers as regulation of prices in commercial contracts as opposed to particular commercial practices would not be compatible with the single market. The programme for Government includes a commitment to enact legislation to regulate certain practices in the grocery...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (12 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: The holding concerned has now been confirmed as having met the minimum stocking density requirements of the Scheme, following receipt of outstanding evidence relating to donkeys. This has enabled processing of the application to be finalised, with payment due to issue shortly to the nominated bank account.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (12 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: Payment in this case will shortly issue to the nominated bank account. Payment had not issued previously as the holding concerned was only recently confirmed as having satisfied the scheme minimum stocking density requirements. An exercise to take account of December 2012 data, which was recently completed, established the definitive position of the holding.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Lands (12 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the harvesting of trees and management of the forest estate, are the responsibility of the company.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foreshore Licences (12 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department’s records indicate that the Foreshore Licence referred to by the Deputy was granted to a named individual and was in force from 1983 until termination in 2011. Foreshore fees in respect of the years 2005 to the date of termination of the Licence remain outstanding. The Deputy will appreciate that the collection of fees in respect of Foreshore Licences is of general...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (12 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: Advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme issued on 16 October 2012. Following finalisation of processing of a transfer of entitlements application from the person named and related matters, it has been possible to make the balancing payment which issued on 7 February 2013 directly to the nominated bank account.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Correspondence (12 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: Legal proceedings have been commenced in this case with effect from October 2012. As the matter is now sub judice, it would be therefore be inappropriate for me to comment further in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Redeployment (12 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: In answer to the Deputy’s question, I can confirm that two meetings have been held with staff in the District Veterinary Office in Limerick regarding their redeployment to the Revenue Commissioners in Limerick city. The first meeting was held with HR management informing staff of the reorganisation of the administrative functions of this Department’s local offices due to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals (12 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named is one of a number, their derogation applications having been unsuccessful, who were offered the option to appeal to the independently chaired DAS Appeals Committee. To date, this option has not been availed of. Should the applicant choose to lodge an appeal, it will be referred to the Committee.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Equine Identification Scheme (12 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: The identification of equidae is governed by EU Council Directives 90/426/EEC and 90/427/EEC and Commission Regulation (EC) No 504/2008 of 6 June 2008. The latter regulation, came into effect on 1 July 2009, provides that equine animals registered after that date must be identified with a passport and a microchip. The EU legislation has been transposed into national legislation via S.I. No....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (12 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1 September 2010 and full payments totalling €1,666.66 and €4,999.98 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (12 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in November 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. This process is nearing completion in this case and I...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (12 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: I wish to advise that the consideration process, arising from the Government decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be put forward for sale, is at an advanced stage. The outcome of the overall analysis will be considered by the Government upon its conclusion. No final decision has been taken as yet.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (12 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: I wish to advise that the consideration process, arising from the Government decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be put forward for sale, is at an advanced stage. The outcome of the overall analysis will be considered by the Government upon its conclusion. No final decision has been taken as yet.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: State Bodies (12 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Government established NewERA, in September 2011, to change the way Government manages its shareholding in the semi-state sector by adopting a new portfolio approach. A specific responsibility of NewERA is to review the capital investment plans of selected commercial semi-state companies and to identify possible synergies between investment programmes of different state companies. NewERA...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Applications (12 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: There are 30,284 active participants currently in REPS 4. To date 26,145 of these have received their 2012 payments. The remainder of 4,139 have not yet been paid, and these are shown on a county basis in the following table: County Number Unpaid County Number Unpaid Carlow 34 Longford 73 Cavan 108 Louth 21 Clare 72 Mayo 709 Cork 604 Meath 61 Donegal 118 Monaghan 67...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety Standards Regulation (12 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with EU legislation, the responsibility to place safe food on the market rests with the food business operator and, therefore, the consequences of a failure to meet that requirement also rest with the food business operator. The Pigmeat Recall Scheme (PRS), which was approved by the European Commission, provided for a facility of up to €180 million from the public...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (12 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1st September 2011 and has received full payment totalling €1,333.33 in respect of 2011. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Technology Adoption Programme (12 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Dairy Efficiency Programme (DEP) 2010 to 2012 was open to all dairy farmers and its success was the reason I decided to introduce similar programmes for beef and sheepmeat farmers. Indeed the Sheep Technology Adoption Programme (STAP) is based on the same successful discussion group model of the DEP and is a key element in driving the ambitious target for the sheepmeat Sector in Food...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (12 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: Following initial processing of the application of the person named, issues arose regarding over-claims on some of the land parcels declared. My Department has been in direct contact with the person named, as a result of which these issues have recently been resolved. Payment under both Schemes issued to the nominated bank account on 7 February 2013.