Results 34,781-34,800 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: I acknowledge that a number of suggestions have been received about this section, and I find I am of like mind. Therefore, I am accepting the spirit of a number of the amendments that have been proposed, and I have tried to accommodate them in a new amendment. As I stated during my Second Stage speech, there was never any intention to interfere with the current approach whereby, in...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: Amendment No. 27a inserts into section 23(2) the phrase: ", without having to seek the consent of its owner or the person in control of it". It permits a competent officer to deal with, for example, an animal which is lying in a ditch after being hit by a truck and which clearly needs to be put down in circumstances where it has been abandoned or its owner cannot be determined. It is a...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: We have made it clear from the outset that we will not prescribe codes of practice in the legislation but will give the Minister the power to put in place codes of conduct, whether by establishing new codes or adopting codes that have been published elsewhere. Clearly if we put in place a code of practice that affects commercial farming, for example, we would do so in conjunction with...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: I will start with the last point. The Bill applies to all animals, wild animals and protected animals, in the control of a person. They may be farm animals or pets. Senator O'Neill left out the words in parentheses, "if any", when reading section 25(4) because there are no codes of conduct for most animals. Standards are imposed on 99% of farms in the farming sector. There are also...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: I believe we are dealing with the previous section.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: This is section 30, amendment No. 31.

Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (19 Jun 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 1 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 — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (19 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: It is not proposed to limit the height of trees in legislation. All afforestation projects must obtain the prior approval of this Department. Before any afforestation project is granted approval, the Department undertakes an assessment of the project, examining both the suitability of the site to grow trees and any environmental issues. If a proposed afforestation project is located on...

Written Answers — Farm Household Incomes: Farm Household Incomes (19 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: Statistics on farm income are published annually in the Teagasc National Farm Survey but these are not available on a county basis and the full 2011 survey is not yet released. However, the most recent national figures from the survey are as follows: Average Family Farm Income € 2009 2010 2011 Full-time farms 24,214 41,624 56,413 Part-Time farms 6,611 7,554 10,666 All Farms 12,190...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (19 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: As indicated in my previous reply to the Deputy the application referred to is in respect of a site located within Drumcliff Bay which is designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive (Natura 2000 site). All applications in 'Natura' areas are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (19 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: There has been a significant improvement in the Bovine TB situation over the past decade and eradication now appears to be a genuinely practicable proposition over the coming years. The number of reactors has declined from 40,000 to 18,500 during the period 2000 to 2011. This is the lowest recorded since the commencement of the eradication programme in the 1950's and improves on the record...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (19 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: By virtue of the Scheme being part of our 2007/2013 Rural Development Programme, it was necessary that the proposed changes to the Terms and Conditions of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme be formally submitted to the EU Commission for their approval. This process initially involves informal contact at official level, following which a formal written submission is made. On receipt of the...

Written Answers — Ports Sector: Ports Sector (19 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: At present there are twenty eight leased premises in Howth Fishery Harbour Centre. While the details of individual lease holders are confidential I can confirm that the terms of the various leases range from 21 years to 100 years with twenty leases having a standard 35 year term. In 2001 four sites in Claremont Industrial Estate as well a premises on the East Pier were advertised for...

Written Answers — Ports Sector: Ports Sector (19 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: A licence was issued to Howth Fish Sales Ltd. in 1994 to operate the Auction Hall at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre following an application invited by newspaper advertisement. The most recent valid licence expired in 2004 and there is currently no formal licence or lease agreement in place on the Howth Auction Hall.

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (19 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: Howth is one of 6 Fishery Harbour Centres operated by the State each of whose primary purpose is to provide facilities and services for the fishing industry and fisheries-related activities. There has been significant capital investment in the Fishery Harbour Centres and the State is fully committed to maximising the return on its investment, both in terms of providing enhanced facilities...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (19 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: Under the Fishery Harbour Centres Act of 1968, charges for the use of services and facilities at all of the State's six Fishery Harbour Centres, including Howth, are set out by way of a Rates and Charges Order. The Rates and Charges Order currently in place dates from 2003. In the context of the ongoing development work at the Fishery Harbour Centres, and taking account of their expanding...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (19 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The evidence showing interference with the TB test has been provided to the herdowner in question in the context of a court hearing in February 2011 and, more recently, through the release of documentation under the FOI. It should also be noted that Article 7 of the Bovine Tuberculosis (Attestation of the State and General Provisions ) Order, 1989 clearly lays the responsibility on the...

Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (19 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st November 2010 and full payment totalling €209.33 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 be...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (19 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named has been a participant in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS 4) since June 2008 and has received payment for the first four years of the scheme, the latest payment having issued in December 2011. This payment was reduced to €5,679.29 following a penalty deduction of €3,223.57 as a result of breaches of the scheme which were discovered at inspection. The farm...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (19 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: There were no State agencies abolished or merged since the formation of this government, however, the Government decided that three bodies under the aegis of my Department should be reviewed. 1. National Milk Agency – to consider abolishing or merging with Bord Bia 2. Irish Marine Development Office – to consider subsuming functions into the Marine Institute 3. Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM)...