Results 34,201-34,220 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (3 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person concerned is an applicant under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. Currently, this applicant is one of a number, whose cases are impacted by a requirement of a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare and who have applied for a derogation in this regard. This application had not been determined in sufficient time to enable payment with the first...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheepmeat Sector (3 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: The market performance of the sheep sector, in common with other agricultural sectors, is a function of supply and demand. Market conditions for Irish sheepmeat are generally proving more difficult in 2012 than in the previous two years. Factory prices for heavy lambs for the year 2012 to date are approximately 2% below 2011 levels for the corresponding period. This reflects the competitive...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fur Farming (3 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Fur Farming Review Group submitted its report to my office. In compiling the report, the Group examined all aspects of fur farming within the context of its terms of reference and took account of the arguments and points of view expressed in the submissions it received. My Department will be publishing the report in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (3 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: Under the EU Regulations governing the agri-environmental schemes, comprehensive administrative checks, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, as well as field inspections must be completed before payments can issue. Actual expenditure in any one year will depend on the completion of this process on an on-going basis and on the levels of queries and other issues...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Offices (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 448 and 473 together. My Department is consolidating all Clonakilty based activities on the one site at Park Road, Clogheen in order to deliver services at a lower cost to the taxpayer while at the same time maintaining the highest level of services to our stakeholders. Internal changes are also being introduced on a whole of county basis to achieve...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 449, 465 and 466 together. The budgeted expenditure under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was reduced from €220 million to €190 million. In order to make the necessary savings it was proposed to make technical adjustments to the Scheme criteria to ensure that the aid payment is focused on farmers whose farming enterprises are situated...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licences (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: The application for licence assignment referred to by the Deputy is currently being assessed by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997. This process is at an advanced stage and the decision in this matter can be expected shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st 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. The person named was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 452 and 453 together. The position is that both the Libyan and Lebanese markets have recently been opened for live cattle from Ireland and in the case of Libya, my Department is working closely with the Libyan veterinary authorities to have the age limit, which currently stands at 24 months, increased to thirty months. The Egyptian market is also open to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Grants (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person in question applied for the second instalment of a forestry establishment grant. Under the afforestation scheme this grant will only be paid four years after the completion date of the plantation. As the plantation was completed on 20th December 2008, the grant is not payable until after the 20th December 2012. In this context, the applicant must submit a Tax Clearance Certificate...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Issues (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: It is my intention to maintain provisions in the Animal Health and Welfare Bill relating to the lawful hunting and coursing of animals and I do not intend to interfere with legitimate field sports which are carried out in a proper manner. Where animals are released in an injured or exhausted condition or where a hare does not have a reasonable chance of escape, the sanctions and penalties set...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Milk Quota Leases (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department operates an annual Milk Quota Temporary Leasing Scheme whereby milk producers can offer a part of their quota, which they are unlikely to use in the Milk Quota year, to their Co-op for temporary leasing to other producers in the Co-op. In order to avail of the Scheme producers must have delivered a minimum of 20% of their quota in the year in question. However where a producer...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Noxious Weeds (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department has received no reports for the presence of noxious weeds at the location given by the Deputy. Notwithstanding this, my Department actively seeks to enforce the provisions of the Noxious Weeds Act 1936 which covers Ragwort, Thistle and Docks by engaging with all County Councils, Local Authorities and the National Roads Authority (NRA) to ensure a consistent programme of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: Last week I announced the re-opening of the Agri-Environmental Options Scheme, AEOS, to new entrants. I am providing €20 million for the AEOS scheme which will open shortly for applications. The scheme will build on the success of both the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) and both AEOS 1 and 2 in delivering an annual income to farmers in return for farming to high...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Suckler Welfare Scheme Payments (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Suckler Welfare Scheme is a five year Scheme and was introduced to improve welfare standards for beef animals born between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2012 and to assist in the establishment of a breeding database from which Suckler farmers could identify the best breeding stock for their particular requirements. The Scheme is fully funded by the Exchequer and a recent Value for Money...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am acutely aware of the importance of the agri environment schemes to the agriculture sector not only in environmental terms but also from the point of view of farm incomes. Last week, I announced that despite the challenging budgetary constraints in my Department, I have re-opened the Agri-environmental Options Scheme and am providing €20m to admit new participants. A maximum...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Remuneration (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: In answer to the Deputy’s question, the attached document details all allowances paid to staff in my Department in 2011 and the annual cost for each allowance for that period. It is expected that the outturn for 2012 will be less due to the discontinuation of certain allowances and the number of staff, in receipt of an allowance, who have retired this year. The business cases made by...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020 Strategy (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: Coordination of the State contribution to Food Harvest 2020 is being overseen by the High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC) for Food Harvest 2020, which I chair. The Committee includes representatives from Bord Bia, Teagasc, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Enterprise Ireland, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department. The HLIC also engages...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Alternative Energy Projects (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: In 2007, my Department approved grant-aid for development of ten on-farm anaerobic digesters under the National Development Plan. To date, only one of these has been drawn down and it is likely that a maximum of 4 or 5 others will come to fruition. Provision was made in my Department’s Estimates in 2012 to provide for one of these projects, but it has not as yet reached completion....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st September 2010 and full payment totalling €628.28 issued in respect of 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...