Results 32,261-32,280 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Imports (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: Consignments of products of animal origin imported into Ireland from outside the EU are generally checked at a Border Inspection Post (BIP) on arrival in Ireland. There are two product BIPs in Ireland, at Dublin port and Shannon airport, operated by my Department. Controls on imported products consist of three types of checks – documentary, identity and physical. All consignments...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Illegal Horse Meat Trade (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department and Local Authorities operate under EU regulatory requirements which apply in this area in the delivery of official controls in relation to horse identification at marts and other sales venues, in abattoirs and at points of entry to the country. Where forged or tampered passports accompanying horses to slaughter are detected, it is the policy that such animals are destroyed and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Illegal Horse Meat Trade (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: EU legislation provides, which came into effect on 1 July 2009, that equine animals registered after that date must be identified with a passport and a microchip. The relevant national legislation is S.I. No. 357 of 2011 - European Communities (Equine) Regulations 2011 (as amended). This legislation provides that if an equine animal has not been identified within six months of the date of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Labelling (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware the free movement of goods within the European Union provides that once goods (including pigmeat) are produced in an approved establishment in another Member State, then those goods are free to move without official checks to other member states. Each Member State is responsible for ensuring that approved food premises comply with EU regulations. My...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (23 Jan 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. The detailed administrative checks identified an issue in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, there are two criteria to be satisfied in relation to horses. First, the holding itself must meet the definition of an Equine Breeding Enterprise and second, horses, in order to be taken into account for stocking density purposes, must be aged one to five years and, where older, must be a breeding mare for the purposes of the Scheme. While the person...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: The reason for the penalty in this instance was outlined to the applicant by letter from my Department on 20 August 2012 and also in a reply to a previous Parliamentary Question on this case on 9th October 2012. In summary, the penalty arose from a breach of Nitrates legislation. My Department’s letter and also my response in the House drew attention to the review process which is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Imports (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: EU law provides for the free movement of goods between Member States. On that basis, food ingredients produced in an establishment which is approved under relevant regulation can be moved freely within the EU. The onus of compliance with EU food safety regulations, including traceability requirements, rests in the first instance with food business operators. Food business operators in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st September 2010 and full payments totalling €1,424.71 and €4,473.78 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: Fish Quotas (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: Each year a number of swaps of fishing quotas and effort takes place with other Member States. Swaps are normally initially proposed or organised by the fishing industry lead by the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) and completed in a transaction between Member States. This may happen for a number of reasons. Firstly at the start of each year when the TAC and Quota Regulation is published,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety Standards (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: Intensive investigations are continuing with a view to identifying the source of the equine DNA in one processing facility. This includes further analysis of a range of samples from both burgers and ingredients. Detailed analysis of records held by the company relating to the sourcing of ingredients and the incorporation of these ingredients is also being conducted. It would be inappropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Disease Controls (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: I have received a request to provide funding in respect of the compulsory phase of the BVD programme. This request must be placed in the context of the economic benefits accruing to farmers arising from the eradication of this disease and, particularly, the short payback time involved as well as the budgetary resources available to my Department. It has been estimated that the overall...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Action Plan for Jobs (22 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: The 2012 Action Plan for Jobs included 17 Actions which have specific reference to the agri-food and fisheries sectors. Details are set out it the following table. No. Action 1 Promote 'co‐opetition' projects within the food industry, encourage B2B business, facilitate mentoring by larger food companies of smaller companies. 2 Ensure completion of industry projects awarded...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (22 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: Following good preparatory work by Cyprus and Denmark, President Van Rompuy’s proposals on the MFF last November generally narrowed the gap between Member States. He is now taking work forward and is consulting informally before bringing the matter back to the European Council, which I understand is planned for the meeting of 7 and 8 February. As Presidency, we will give whatever...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (22 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in March 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. During these checks issues of non compliance with the REPS...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Technology Adoption Programme (22 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Beef Technology Adoption Programme (BTAP) was introduced in 2012 to improve the technical and financial performance of producers. Its objective is to improve the productivity and profitability of participants’ beef enterprises by focusing on five areas: financial management, grassland management, herd health, animal breeding/welfare and producing animals to market specifications....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (22 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (22 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: The advance of the 2012 Single Payment issued to the person named on 16 October 2012 and the balance issued on 3 December 2012. Processing of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme has recently been completed with payment due to issue to the bank account of the person named shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scéim Limistéar faoi Mhíbhuntáiste (22 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: Faoin Scéim Limistéar faoi Mhíbhuntáiste 2012, tá dhá chritéar le comhlíonadh maidir le capaill. Sa chéad áit, ní mór don ghabháltas an sainmhíniú a chomhlíonadh maidir le bheith ina Fhiontar Póraithe Chapall agus sa dara háit, ní mór do na capaill, d'fhonn a bheith curtha san áireamh chun...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (22 Jan 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 €1,288.14 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...