Results 33,401-33,420 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (13 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 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, must be completed before any payment can issue. During these checks issues...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Sector Reform (13 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: During the second half of 2011, and as part of an initiative to improve internal communications in the context of the Public Service (Croke Park) Agreement, my Department held a series of staff seminars throughout the country. The seminars gave senior management an opportunity to communicate with staff members and receive feedback regarding the changes that have already taken place and the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pension Provisions (13 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: The funding of pension schemes for the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the Agencies themselves.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Business of Select Committee (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: I would say we will need a long session the next day.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Business of Select Committee (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: It would be great if we could try to get this completed before the end of the session.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Business of Select Committee (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am in the committee's hands.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: That is as upfront as I can be at this stage.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: My understanding is that the only stag hunt in the country has not got a licence renewal, therefore, it is not happening. That is different from outlawing it. So far as I am aware there is no intention to renew that licence.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: Yes. That might be useful. I can provide a briefing note to members of the committee on the various areas in order that we can have a discussion on the issue the next day. I do not want to raise people's expectations that I will start banning a series of practices that I do not believe should be banned. However people need to know the actual position in terms of what is legally...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: That would be very useful and it will be done before the next meeting.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: We will put the report on the Department's website in the next couple of days. People will be able to see the full report and the recommendations on fur farming. It is just a report. I am not required to take all the recommendations on board, but I would like people to see the recommendations made by the group. We will put the report up within the next couple of days.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: Will I speak to amendment No. 6 at this point?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: It is not a big issue in any event.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: Perhaps the Deputy should focus on amendment No. 26 in her comments on this group of amendments. I have no input into how they are grouped together. I have no problem taking-----

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: I will speak in a spirit of trying to address the Deputies' concerns. It will not be a huge surprise to them that I am not likely to accept amendment No. 26, as there are technical problems with it. In addition, I do not agree with what is being proposed. The Deputies are proposing to amend the section of the Bill governing performances involving animals. Clearly, the section in question...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: I have proposed a way to deal with this, but I am in the hands of the committee. Unfortunately, we got off to the wrong start. I said I would deal with the essence of what was sought in amendment No. 26, the outlawing of a series of practices that the Deputies consider unacceptable. I was going to explain that I did not agree with such an approach and set out my reasons. For example, I...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: Yes.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: That is correct.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: They can do more than that and it is important to clarify that. A large element of the legislation is about preventing the spread of disease, which is in everybody's interest, particularly the agricultural sector. Section 38(4) states: Where an authorised officer has reasonable grounds for believing that- the officer may, in addition to the powers exercisable by him or her under...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: Amendment No. 72 states, "The power conferred on an authorised officer under subsection (4)(a)and (b)" which refers to the reasonable grounds for believing that there is a risk of disease-----