Results 34,601-34,620 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Beef Industry: Beef Industry (11 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) is a cooperative and its shareholders include all stakeholders in the cattle breeding industry such as Pedigree Cattle Herdbooks, AI Organisations, Milk Recording Organisations and farmer representative organisations. The Herdplus system was developed by ICBF in consultation with the industry. The issue of my Department engaging in consultations...

Written Answers — Beef Industry: Beef Industry (11 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: The establishment of an effective discussion group model similar to that successfully employed in the dairy sector was a key recommendation of the report of the industry-led Beef 2020 Activation Group which was set up to advise on the implementation of the Food Harvest 2020 strategy. The Beef Technology Adoption Programme (BTAP) giving effect to this recommendation was devised following...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (11 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: Provision was included in the 2012 Budget for payment for close to 7,000 hectares of new planting. It is not possible at this stage to determine exactly the number of hectares that will receive funding by the end of this year. The allocation for forestry in 2013 and future years will be determined in the context of the normal budgetary discussions.

Written Answers — Beef Industry: Beef Industry (11 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) is a cooperative and its shareholders include all stakeholders in the cattle breeding industry such as Pedigree Cattle Herdbooks, AI Organisations, Milk Recording Organisations and farmer representative organisations. HerdPlus is an information service provided by the ICBF. ICBF developed Herdplus in consultation with the industry. Herdplus is...

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (11 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 10 April 2007, following processing of which full payment issued to the person named on 14 February 2008.

Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Bill 2011: Amendments from the Seanad (11 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: Deputies will be familiar with this Bill which has been through all Stages in the Dáil and Seanad. An amendment was proposed in the Seanad and I wish to outline the reason for that. As I explained when I presented the Bill to the House last autumn, the amendments proposed in the Bill can be divided into two broad strands. The first strand derives from the relatively broad definition of...

Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Bill 2011: Amendments from the Seanad (11 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: We had a lengthy discussion on this issue in the Seanad in order to provide clarity on the various procedures that do not require the presence of a vet. In other words, a farmer or other competent person will be able to undertake certain procedures in the absence of a vet. The Bill deliberately does not set out the procedures in question because the list may change. However, it provides...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: My views are as they were. The whole thrust of this Bill is to give authorised officers the capacity to act when they have reasonable grounds to suspect cruelty is going on and there is an animal welfare issue or there may be a risk of disease spread in an establishment. They will be able to go in and attempt to nip it in the bud or address it at an early stage instead of having to build a...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: Section 39 refers to the power of the Garda Síochána to arrest without warrant and then there are other areas where a member of the Garda Síochána might be required. If one wants to search a person or to stop a vehicle, a garda can do that but an authorised officer is limited in terms of the powers they have. Dwelling houses are sensitive areas. Section 38(5) states that an authorised...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased the Senator took the opportunity to clarify comments he made in a previous debate on the Dogs Trust. My understanding is the Dogs Trust does a good job. It is very professional in what it does and it is very well funded. In many ways it is one of a number of animal welfare organisations which sets the standard both in terms of this country and the United Kingdom. I would have...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: The point relates to section 42. We can agree section 41.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: We are addressing this issue with the next two amendments to section 43 which deals with an appeal against an animal health and welfare notice. Until now authorised officers or a member of An Garda Síochána could have taken a case against an owner or someone in charge of animals for cruelty or abuse, but they required evidence to do so. The only course of action open to them was to take a...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am unsure whether it relates to existing legislation, but I will find out and get back to the Senator on it.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: Section 50 relates to a technical matter. It allows for laboratory evidence to be given by written certificate and evidence of EU measures to be given by the production of a certified copy. I am unsure whether that clarifies matters.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: I can clarify it on Report Stage. I am not 100% certain.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: The onus of providing proof will be on the landowner or person in charge of the land in the case of conacre or leased land.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: I will try to clarify the matter. I understand the issue raised, although Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh's amendment would not solve that problem. It states, "In proceedings for an offence under this Act an animal, animal product, animal feed or other thing is presumed, unless the contrary is shown, to be owned by the occupier or person in charge of the land or premises...". One must...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: If one were to provide in law a non-rebuttable presumption that the owner or controller of land on which there is an animal that is subject to proceedings is the owner of the animal, the provision would be unconstitutional. However, the Bill makes provision for the person who owns or controls the land to rebut any such presumption. One must return to the content of the section, namely, the...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: That option is available to the judge.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2012)

Simon Coveney: My view on this and other areas is that it would set a dangerous precedent if politicians were to decide on the length of jail terms for any offence. I refer also to some of the mandatory sentencing that is prescribed in law for drug offences and so forth. We should, by and large, have faith in the Judiciary to make a judgment call in these matters. If someone has engaged in such...