Results 33,541-33,560 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Island Communities (6 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: All Department schemes are open to farmers including in the islands. In terms of access to fishing opportunities, fish stocks are managed at a national level and there are no specific allocations for island communities. There is opportunity for increasing Irish fish catches, including for operators based in island communities, by growing the stocks on which we are dependant and which are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (6 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy correctly identifies the crucial importance for Ireland of securing support for its position in relation to the EU budget and the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The building of alliances with counterparts in like-minded Member States is an essential component of Ireland’s approach to both sets of negotiations. The negotiations on the Multiannual...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (6 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: In 2011, I asked the fishing industry and other interested parties to make proposals on the future management arrangements for all Irish herring fisheries, the Celtic Sea stock, the stocks off the North West coast and the Atlanto Scandian stock. The objective of the review was to deliver a policy which would ensure an economically and biologically sustainable fishery. I received over 20 sets...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Commonage Division (6 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Department is proposing to introduce measures under the provisions of Article 6 of Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 for the maintenance of certain lands, including commonages declared under the Single Payment Scheme (SPS), the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, REPS, AEOS and the Grassland Sheep Scheme. As part of this process the Commonage Framework Plans, first published in 2002, have been...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers (6 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department administers the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme on an annual basis. The Programme provides funding for the development of the six state owned fishery harbours and aquaculture landing places. Subject to the availability of necessary exchequer funding, the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme does in addition, provide...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Expenditure (6 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: In the case of the Single Farm Payment, the earliest payment date under the governing EU rules is 1 December. However earlier this year in recognition of the difficult financial situation faced by many farmers I successfully sought the approval of the Commissioner to have advance payments made as and from 16 October. This is the earliest possible legal date for making advance payments, it...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Stocking Densities (6 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: Under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, eligible applicants in 2012 must have met (a) a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per hectare in 2011 (equivalent to 2 ewes per hectare) and (b) 0.15 livestock units per hectare in 2012. However, in recognition of the environmental objectives of the Scheme, specific provisions were made for those farmers, who had a stocking density...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (6 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: As it is not possible to compile the full information requested in the available timescale, I am arranging for it to be provided directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Expenditure (6 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: Since 1995, my Department has made ex-gratia payments to a number of organisations directly involved in the delivery of animal care. This funding is intended only as a contribution to the overall costs of an organisation. Applications for funding are considered against a number of criteria. These include the standing of each applicant, past performance in respect of utilisation of grants...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tax Code (6 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: A number of new tax measures were introduced in 2012, with a view to - encourage farming as a career for young people; - incentivise farm partnerships and greater productivity at farm level; - stimulate land sales and land transfers; - facilitate new enterprise opportunities in farming; and - help agri-food businesses innovate and export. The new stock relief measure for farm...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Expenditure (6 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: As regards the Single Payment Scheme, advance payments of 50% started issuing on cases cleared for payment, as scheduled, on 16 October. Since that date about 115,000 applicants have been paid some €579M. Advance payments will continue to be made on clear cases, twice weekly, on an on-going basis. The balancing payments will commence as provided for under EU legislation from 1st ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Exploration Licences (6 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 141 together. The foreshore licence application referred to by the Deputies was referred by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government to my Department for observations in December 2011. Following an assessment of the application by the Marine Institute, my Department advised the Department of Environment, Community and Local...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Staff (6 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: The present remuneration package of the Chief Executive Officer of Coillte Teoranta includes a basic salary of €265,252 per annum, a pension contribution (equating to 25% of base salary), a car allowance and health insurance. There is also provision for the payment of Performance Related Awards. In relation to the latter, the Government has decided to continue the policy of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sugar Industry (6 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: Background The EU Sugar Regime underwent a radical reform in 2005 following major EU decisions to restructure this regime and Greencore, the holder of the entire Irish sugar quota, availed of this voluntary scheme, dismantled its facilities and ceased production in 2006. Post reform, production is now concentrated in 18 Member States. The present regime runs from 1 September 2006 to the 30...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Grants (6 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: At this stage of the year, it is not possible to give the exact cost of forestry premiums that will be paid in 2012, as the final cost will depend of the number of correct applications submitted by clients by the year end. However, the total cost to 31st October 2012 was €74,927,283 and this was paid to 14,165 forest owners. Of these: - 397 owners received between €20,000...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (6 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: REPS and AEOS are area based schemes which are co-funded by the EU under the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 and EU Regulations governing the Schemes must be strictly adhered to. These require that a full and comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, as well as field inspections, must be completed before payment issue. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Reports (6 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 844 and 867 together. I am fully aware of the Report of the High Level Group which I established and I am anxious to see the potential for job creation in the Killybegs region identified in the Report materialise and I want to see the greatest possible number of the actions identified in the five Key Areas deliver on that potential. The overall aim of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (6 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: Processing of the application concerned has recently been completed and payments under the Single Payment Scheme and Disadvantaged Areas Scheme will shortly issue to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (6 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: One Assistant Secretary General was re-engaged by my Department on a part-time contract basis. The cost from March 2011 to date is €127,708.96. A Principal Officer has been re-engaged for a limited period to work on specific matters related to the Irish Presidency of the EU. The cost from October 2012 to date is €1,392.12. One Superintending Senior Research Officer and one...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (6 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: While the person named applied for derogation under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas scheme, the application was unsuccessful. The applicant was notified of this decision in writing on 16 October and advised of the right of appeal to the recently established independent DAS Appeals Committee.