Results 34,521-34,540 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (18 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: I do not see why they would not. That is a case of humane destruction of an animal. The Bill applies to all cases and not just the farmyard. Such action may be required at a show, in an abattoir or a person's back yard. There is no distinction made between farming and non-farming activity.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (18 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: I can see what the Senators are saying. The subsection states: "Nothing in this section prevents the occasional killing by or on behalf of the owner of an individual protected animal that is injured." There is a distinction between that and the subject of 23(2)(b), whereby, essentially, a person comes across an animal that is in a particularly bad way, either injured or diseased and dying....

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (18 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: I believe the rainfall has been higher in Cork than in Donegal.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (18 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: The sections are a reflection of the existing legislation, which is the Bovine Diseases (Levies) Act 1979. It gives the Minister or any future Minister the power to introduce a new levy should he or she deem it appropriate in new areas in animal health and disease control. It also puts in place a number of requirements to be met by the Minister before he or she can do so. Where a Minister...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (18 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: The legislation is in place already. We are merely updating it.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (18 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: There are no anticipated increases because we do not propose an increase. We propose a legal framework to allow a Minister to make a decision in the area if he or she wishes to with regard to disease levy. To be clear, the receipts for 2011 for the bovine disease levy and compensation amounted to €5.67 million. On-farm market valuation compensation for 2011 amounted to €13.781 million...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (18 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: I do not propose to accept these amendments. I do not know why the Senator is introducing this unnecessary level of doubt. If an animal cannot be identified, then the Minister should have the power to destroy it rather than have the terminology proposed that if it is not possible to identify an animal, then the Minister may have the power. One would have to have a discussion and argument...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (18 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: We are trying to put in place a wording to reflect the conversation we had and to try to get the balance right between putting in place a fair system of valuation and assessment, which does not take a long time and ensures people get paid, but which is not a situation where the farmer chooses his or her valuer. In the vast majority of cases, I am sure there would be no problem with that but...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (18 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: Following the debate on Committee Stage I have educated myself on the system. On the last occasion I talked about the theory behind it but I had not realised that existing compliance notices are given to farmers by authorised officers in order to keep cases out of the courts. The whole point of a welfare notice, or a compliance notice as they are currently called, is to keep people out of...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (18 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: Let us be clear. If somebody appeals this decision to the Minister's office, in all likelihood we will have the same result if there is consistency. They will appeal the decision to the District Court. One could have a similar case to that outlined by the Senator, a difficult individual who should not be minding animals abusing a donkey. An authorised officer may go in and issue a notice,...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (18 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: I thank Senators for their interaction and co-operation. This is a major Bill, with some complex elements. The debate in the Seanad has exposed some weaknesses which I think we will improve on in the Dáil. It was very worthwhile to introduce it in the Seanad and we have had good interaction on a series of issues. I hope that my response to them was satisfactory. I thank my officials -...

Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named has been informed in writing that he was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1st September 2011. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed...

Written Answers — Grant Aid: Grant Aid (17 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: A total of 2,275 applications have been received under the Dairy Equipment Scheme since its introduction. Applications are examined and grants are approved on a phased basis up to the limit of funding available under various 'tranches'. To date, approximately 1,000 applications have been selected to proceed to the approval stage. A further selection will take place shortly as a result of my...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (17 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 640 and 669 together. Since their publication, the EU Commission's proposals for reform of the CAP have undergone detailed examination at Council Working Groups, the Special Committee on Agriculture and the Council of Agriculture Ministers. At last month's Agriculture Council, the Danish Presidency presented a progress report outlining the current status of...

Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: Under the EU Regulations governing the Agri-environment Options Scheme (AEOS) 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. Payments under the AEOS 2010 scheme in respect of the 2011 scheme year are issuing on an ongoing basis and all applications...

Written Answers — Sale of State Assets: Sale of State Assets (17 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Government has decided, in the context of the State asset disposal programme, that consideration would be given to the sale of Coillte, excluding the land. Work has been undertaken in the interim by NTMA/NewERA to determine the valuation of Coillte. While an indicative valuation has been received, further work is required to refine this.

Written Answers — Drainage Schemes: Drainage Schemes (17 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: I have no plans at this time to introduce a land drainage scheme. I am fully aware of the impact of the very difficult weather conditions of recent weeks on farmers and of the potential impact on farm incomes. I have sought EU approval for the advance payment of the 2012 Single Payment Scheme. If approved, this will enable payment to issue immediately following 15 October and will represent...

Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the importance of agri environment payments to the agriculture sector and am actively considering the possibility of re-opening the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) to allow for the submission of applications this year either on an amended basis from the existing scheme and/or on a limited scale. However, there are strict budgetary constraints in place and, as a result,...

Written Answers — Adverse Weather Conditions: Adverse Weather Conditions (17 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 645, 657 and 665 together. I am fully aware of the impact of the very difficult weather conditions of recent weeks on farmers and of the potential impact on farm incomes. For that reason I have sought EU approval for the advance payment of the 2012 Single Payment. If approved, this will enable payment to issue at the earliest possible date after 15th October...

Written Answers — Sugar Industry: Sugar Industry (17 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: Background The EU Sugar Regime underwent a radical reform in 2005 and Greencore, the holder of the entire Irish sugar quota availed of the sugar restructuring scheme, dismantled all 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 September 2015. The total compensation package...