Results 32,321-32,340 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (17 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: The holding of the person named was recently confirmed as having satisfied the minimum stocking density requirements of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. Accordingly, processing of the application has been finalised, and payment will shortly issue to the nominated bank account.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (17 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: An application was received from the person named on 3rd March 2012. In order to comply with EU requirements, the applicant was one of a number selected for inspection. The outcome of the inspection process is that there will not be any reduction in the herd-owner’s eligible land. Payments due under the Single Payment Scheme / Disadvantaged Areas Scheme/Grassland Sheep Scheme will...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals (17 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: The appeal of the person named is currently being examined by my Department. There are issues involved relating to rights to commonage land and the permanent division of commonage land. These matters are complex and require extensive research of historical documentation. My Department will complete this review as quickly as is possible and the applicant will be informed of the outcome as soon...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (17 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: Both the Agri-environment Options Scheme and the Rural Environment Protection Scheme are implemented under the Rural Development Programme, 2017-2013, and are subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. These checks have commenced and payments under both schemes have commenced in respect of the 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (17 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. These checks have been completed and 2012 payments have...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (17 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st September 2011 and full payment totalling €194.66 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Redeployment (17 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: There are currently 60 members of staff in my Department seeking transfers to another location within my Department. My Department also operates the Central Transfer List, which is the agreed mechanism for transfers for grades represented by the Civil and Public Service Union (CPSU), i.e. Clerical Officer and Staff Officer. There are currently 2,697 applicants on this list from various...

Topical Issue Debate: Food Safety Authority Inspections (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: In most cases they were minuscule. In one case they comprised 15%, but it subsequently emerged that the label on that product stated that it contained pigmeat. The meat processor concerned contacted us to complain that it was being lumped in unfairly with the other products. The vast majority of products contained less than 1% and in most cases the amount was closer to 0.1%. This quantity...

Topical Issue Debate: Food Safety Authority Inspections (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: I will try to answer those questions as best I can. Some of the answers are not complete yet because we must wait until we have the full facts. In respect of Deputy Ó Cuív's questions, I would be happy to come before the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine to debate this issue. I might not be able to do it next week because I am due to be in Brussels for much...

Topical Issue Debate: Food Safety Authority Inspections (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: We will do it as soon as we can and if I cannot do it, someone from the Department will do it. We need to get the full facts first, be that next week or in a fortnight's time. Obviously, I want to ensure we respond to this in as appropriate a way as possible. This is a significant industry for Ireland. One is talking about well over 100,000 jobs and an industry worth about €3...

Topical Issue Debate: Food Safety Authority Inspections (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: Given the number Deputies who have asked questions, I ask the Chair for some leniency on time.

Topical Issue Debate: Food Safety Authority Inspections (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: People will have a copy of my speech, all of which I will not be able to read out in four minutes. I will go as far as I can. As the House is aware, the results of laboratory tests provided to my Department by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland on 14 January 2013 revealed the presence of non-beef DNA in some beef products. This generally involved trace or minute amounts of porcine or...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Poultry Industry (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: There is no obstacle in the legislation implemented by my Department to the keeping of poultry for domestic use in residential or other areas. My Department has no plans to introduce any such legislation. However, any environmental consequences arising from the keeping of poultry in residential areas are matters that come within the remit of the local authorities.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coastal Protection (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Coastal Protection & Management functions previously held by my Department were transferred to the Office of Public Works with effect from January 2009 along with any files relating to that area. Any enquiries in relation to applications made by Fingal County Council for funding in respect of Coastal Protection works, past or present, should be directed to that office.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Regulatory Impact Assessments (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: The necessity to perform regulatory impact assessments did not arise in my Department in the past twelve months.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Eligibility (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in May 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. Following an inspection in 2012 an area discrepancy was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: Payment under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued to the person named on 24 December 2012, directly to the nominated bank account.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020 Strategy (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: Food Harvest 2020 (FH2020) is the overall blueprint for the development of the agriculture, food, fisheries and forestry sector for the next decade. As the Deputy will be aware, this report set value growth targets in primary production, exports and value- added products. These targets will be achieved through a combination of increased production levels as well as enhanced efficiency and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: An AEOS 3 application was received in the Johnstown Castle Office of my Department from the person named on 28 November 2012. The closing date for receipt of applications was Friday 7 December and approximately 10,000 applications have been submitted. All applications received are now being processed with a view to issuing approvals to successful applicants as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Union Solidarity Fund (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: The European Union Solidarity Fund is aimed primarily at providing funding to Member States in the event of a natural disaster. I am very conscious of the significant problems and pressures that the very heavy rainfall last year has caused for farmers. I also fully appreciate the value and importance of the scheme payments to farmers and I remain committed to ensuring that the maximum...