Results 34,441-34,460 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pig Quality Assurance Scheme (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Bord Bia Pig Quality Assurance Scheme (PQAS) is voluntary and application for membership certification is open to all producers (including outdoor production) who have a valid National Pig Identification and Tracing Scheme herd number and who wish to participate. The conditions for membership certification are clearly set down by Bord Bia and these must be fully adhered to. An...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person concerned has appealed the Department’s decision in this case to the Independent Agriculture Appeals Office. A hearing in the matter is currently being arranged and the person will be contacted in this regard as soon as possible.

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

Simon Coveney: Irelands shares of the fish resource in waters around our shores is determined by a system of relative stability, based on historical fishing patterns in the confines of set management areas which were determined at the outset of the Common Fisheries Policy. That system has continued since and was not changed in the CFP Reform’s of 1992 or 2002. There is no support in the Council of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department is keeping the situation under review through monitoring of the weather and its effect on horticulture, cereals and silage production and grass growth. In the meantime, I sought EU approval for the advance payment of the 2012 Single Payment Scheme. This was approved and will enable payment to issue immediately following 16 October and will represent early payment of...

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

Simon Coveney: Due to the volume of the information requested by the Deputy, it was not possible to provide it in the required time. I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Commonage Division (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: A Review of the Commonage Framework Plans is being undertaken by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and my Department, in consultation with stakeholders. Sustainable stock numbers will be proscribed for each LPIS parcel, to prevent under-grazing and over-grazing. The objectives of the Review are to ensure: That the lands are maintained in GAEC; That the sustainable stocking of all...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Union Solidarity Fund (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: The European Union Solidarity Fund is aimed primarily at providing funding to Member States in the event of a natural disaster. Following the bad weather this summer, I sought EU approval for the advance payment of the 2012 Single Payment Scheme. This was approved and will enable payment to issue immediately following 16 October and will represent early payment of €600 million to...

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

Simon Coveney: In order to make the necessary savings under the budget for the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, a range of technical adjustments to the Scheme criteria were introduced, with the agreement of the EU Commission, to ensure that the aid payment is focused on farmers who are making a significant contribution to achieving the objectives of the Scheme, which are defined in the governing EU...

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

Simon Coveney: In order to make the necessary savings under the budget for the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, a range of technical adjustments to the Scheme criteria were introduced, with the agreement of the EU Commission, to ensure that the aid payment is focused on farmers who are making a significant contribution to achieving the objectives of the Scheme, which are defined in the governing EU...

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

Simon Coveney: In order to make the necessary savings under the budget for the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, a range of technical adjustments to the Scheme criteria were introduced, with the agreement of the EU Commission, to ensure that the aid payment is focused on farmers who are making a significant contribution to achieving the objectives of the Scheme, which are defined in the governing EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Applications (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted an application under the Inheritance measure of the Single Payment Scheme on 30th November 2005, to inherit the entitlements established by his late father. Following examination of this application, my Department requested the person named to forward a copy of his late father’s will. Despite numerous requests from my Department, the person named failed to...

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

Simon Coveney: Since 2007 the person named has submitted five separate applications in respect of his lands, each of which has been refused, most recently in August 2011 (reference CN57292). The lands in question are located close to the Atlantic coastline with consequent exposure to extreme wind and salt deposition. The lands are unsuitable for afforestation and incapable of producing a commercial crop.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Application Numbers (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: In order to make the necessary savings under the budget for the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, a range of technical adjustments to the Scheme criteria were introduced, with the agreement of the EU Commission, to ensure that the aid payment is focused on farmers who are making a significant contribution to achieving the objectives of the Scheme, which are defined in the governing EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person mentioned commenced REPS 4 in January 2008 and received payments for the first four years of their contract. Following a compliance inspection in October 2010 areas of non-compliance with the terms and conditions of the scheme were noted in relation to Measure 5 – Maintenance of Farm and Field Boundaries which resulted in a penalty being imposed. This decision was appealed...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licences (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: At present there are 626 aquaculture licence applications awaiting determination. The backlog has developed over a period of approximately eight years and largely arises because the majority of areas for which aquaculture licences are sought are located in areas designated as Special Areas of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive and/or Special Protection Areas under the EU Birds...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Directives (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: The site in question is located within a ‘Natura 2000 area’. All applications in ‘Natura 2000 areas’ are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the EU Habitats/Birds Directives. In accordance with these EU Directives, as clarified by a judgement against Ireland of the European Court of Justice in 2007, my...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licences (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department is in receipt of aquaculture licence applications from the operator referred to by the Deputy for a site in Kenmare Bay. The applications which are for the same site will be processed simultaneously. The site in question is located within a ‘Natura 2000 area’. All applications in ‘Natura 2000 areas’ are required to be appropriately assessed for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Retirement Scheme Eligibility (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: Payments under the Early Retirement Scheme are classified as Class M and as occupational pensions for PRSI purposes. While occupational pensions are taxable, PRSI is not deducted from occupational or Department of Social Protection pensions. Compulsory PRSI deductions are not made from payments under the Early Retirement Scheme. Subject to certain conditions, voluntary contributions may...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Appointments to State Boards (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: Since May 2011, a notification has been placed on my Department’s website inviting expressions of interest from persons interested in being appointed to the boards of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department. Also on 7th September of this year I placed an advertisement in the National Newspapers inviting expressions of interest. These applications will be considered when...

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

Simon Coveney: A revised Sow Housing Welfare Scheme was introduced by my Department in July 2012 in order to further assist the pig sector in Ireland to comply with the new EU animal welfare rules for the sector which come into effect at the beginning of next year. The revised Scheme is, however, limited to investment projects which had not commenced prior to the introduction of the Scheme. Accordingly,...