Results 32,461-32,480 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety Standards (18 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Marine (DAFM) Laboratories carry out a broad and in-depth range of laboratory tests to support DAFM’s requirements in the areas of animal health, plant health and food and feed safety. While DAFM laboratories have the capacity to carry out most of the tests to meet these requirements, for cost efficient reasons, some tests are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (18 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: Volatility in dairy prices is caused by imbalances of supply and demand in international markets, which are cyclical in nature. Dairy farmers’ incomes are comprised of the returns they receive for their milk from processors and their EU support payments. As some 85% of Irish dairy production is exported, mostly to other EU countries, the price of milk in Ireland is ultimately...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Exports (18 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: The National Competitiveness Scorecard, which benchmarks Ireland’s competitiveness against key competitors, has indicated that between April 2008 and April 2012, Ireland’s nominal Harmonised Competitiveness Index (HCI) fell by 7.6%, while the real HCI fell by almost 15.25%. (The nominal HCI is a nominal effective exchange rate for the Irish economy that reflects, on a trade...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Marketing Programme (18 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: I have been active in developing relationships in new and expanding markets in order to build the kind of confidence in Irish production and control systems that provide a platform for long-term trading relationships in the future. In April this year I headed a trade mission to China to further develop this important relationship, and to meet my ministerial counterparts in the Agriculture...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Poultry Industry (18 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: I met with the IFA Pig and Poultry Committee recently and a Poultry Council was one of a number of matters discussed. I agree that a collaborative approach between farmers and processors, where possible and appropriate, is likely to serve the best interests of the poultry sector. Of course such an initiative would require consensus among the main players on the objectives from the outset....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals (18 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named is one of a number, their derogation application 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 appeal, it will be referred to the DAS Appeals Committee.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Redeployment (18 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: It is proposed that revised procedures to provide for the transfer of technical agricultural officers in my Department will be introduced early next year.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Technology Adoption Programme (18 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Beef Technology Adoption Programme (BTAP) is an initiative to address the significant challenges to farm-level profitability that exist in the beef sector by incentivising participants to improve the productivity and technical efficiency of their beef enterprises. With a budget of €5m per annum, the Programme was conceived to cater for approximately 5,000 participants with a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural Sector (18 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: Recent analysis shows that there are more farmers over 80 than under 35 in Ireland. I have been working to encourage more new entrants to take up farming as a career. Budget 2013 saw the extension of key reliefs that were already in place for young new entrants (such as the 100% relief from Stamp Duty and the 100% stock relief for Young Trained Farmers). Extending these reliefs is not...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals (18 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: The appeal of the person named was recently forwarded to the DAS Appeals Committee for consideration; immediately that Committee has adjudicated on this appeal, the person concerned will be notified of their decision, in writing.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Applications (18 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: As processing of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application has recently been finalised, payment will shortly issue to the nominated bank account.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Applications (18 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: As processing of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application has recently been finalised, payment will shortly issue to the nominated bank account. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals (18 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2012 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Schemes was received from the person named on 10th May 2012. In order to comply with EU requirements, the applicant was one of a number selected for inspection. This inspection resulted in findings of an over-declaration in area of between 3% and 20% under the Single Payment Scheme and an over-declaration of 10.62 % under...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (18 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st September 2010. 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 completed before any payment can issue. The person named was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Parking Regulations (18 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: Howth is one of 6 Fishery Harbour Centres operated by the State each of whose primary purpose is to provide facilities and services for the fishing industry and fisheries-related activities. In parallel with fishing-related enhancements, there have been a number of developments at the Fishery Harbours in recent years that underpin their expanding use for leisure and marine tourism, as...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Stocking Densities (18 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: The appeal of the person named was recently forwarded to the DAS Appeals Committee for consideration; immediately that Committee has adjudicated on this appeal, the person concerned will be notified of their decision, in writing.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Quotas (18 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: As of 31/10/2012 the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) advised that 4,350 tonnes of Boarfish quota remained, this cannot be carried forward to 2013. A small amount was retained for a by-catch. In order to ensure that this quota was fully utilised it was important to manage the allocations from a practical and economic perspective, in the most effective way possible. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Sector Pay (18 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: Salary scales for all grades of civil servants including those serving in my Department are set centrally by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It is not a matter therefore for me or my Department to review these salary scales.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Expenditure (18 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: An application for ex-gratia funding has been received from the organisation in question. Provision of ex-gratia assistance this year is subject to the availability of funds and the application will be considered in this context and having regard to competing claims for financial assistance submitted by other animal welfare bodies.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (18 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: Payment under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued to the person named on 17 December 2012, directly to the nominated bank account.