Results 34,821-34,840 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (14 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: First, the Deputy should not believe everything he reads in the media. Second, when one makes a change to the criteria of any scheme, one must make an application to get approval for those changes because the funding comes through the European Commission. My Department is going through that process at present, which is perfectly normal. While letters are going back and forth to clarify...

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (14 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: That is the reason I am trying to protect the payments.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (14 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: First, it is important to be accurate in this Chamber. As I have stated clearly to the Deputy previously, I am hopeful a limited AEOS scheme will be opened in September. I acknowledge it will be limited and it primarily will be focused on Natura areas and on those farmers who farm in commonage areas. In respect of the disadvantaged areas scheme, DAS, the entire point of what the Department...

Bovine Disease Controls (14 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The bovine TB eradication programme includes a comprehensive range of measures aimed at eradicating TB from the cattle population in Ireland through testing and the control of cattle movements in order to prevent the spread of disease. More specifically, the programme provides for the mandatory annual testing of all cattle in the national herd, the implementation of a range of supplementary...

Bovine Disease Controls (14 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: It is important to recognise this is a major concern to farmers. I have met individual farmers, farming organisations and collective groups of farmers on this issue in recent weeks. There is real concern that we should not overdo attempts to stamp out TB and thereby make life impossible for farmers. This applies in particular to contiguous herds because the only change my Department has...

Bovine Disease Controls (14 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am not entirely sure what information the Deputy is seeking. Perhaps I can come back to him with a written answer. I do not wish to give him the wrong steer on the question.

EU Directives (14 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: May I intervene on that point to say there are designated wetlands and there is a map but there is some confusion among some landowners in regard to land that while it may not be designated as such from a European habitats point of view may be categorised as wetland. That is the ambiguous area that needs to be clarified for people. There is a difference, however, in terms of the eco-system...

EU Directives (14 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am sorry, Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Legislative Programme (14 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: In launching the national climate policy review in November 2011, my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, confirmed the objective, in line with the programme for Government, to introduce climate legislation within the lifetime of the Government. The Minister, Deputy Hogan, announced a three-pronged approach to the development of a robust and...

Legislative Programme (14 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: To conclude, we are putting a plan in place, as a Department, working through the Cabinet sub-committee on climate change and the green economy to do what is reasonable but at the same time seeking not to damage the aspirations and ambition of our Food Harvest programme targets. That is the appropriate way to move ahead.

Legislative Programme (14 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The only definite commitment I can give the Deputy today with regard to a timeframe is that climate change legislation will be introduced within the lifetime of the Government, as long as it runs its full term.

Legislative Programme (14 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: Something unforeseen could happen. I am committed to the climate change agenda. I am also committed to our Food Harvest plan and to expanding the Irish food industry so it can fulfil its full potential. Both of those things can be done. Many things can be done in Irish agriculture to reduce emissions. Grazing seasons can be extended. We can look at ways of changing how we spread slurry....

Legislative Programme (14 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: That is a useful suggestion. The answer to the Deputy's question is "Yes". The last Government introduced an anaerobic digester grant aid scheme for which farmers could apply. Just two of the ten applications that were made have actually progressed. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is actively considering how it can encourage and support the development of anaerobic...

Written Answers — Farm Safety: Farm Safety (14 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Health and Safety Authority (HSA), under the remit of my colleague Minister Richard Bruton, has primary responsibility for securing health and safety at work, particularly from an enforcement point of view. My Department is represented on the Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee which is a Sub-Committee of the Health and Safety Authority. The Committee advises the Board on the...

Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (14 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: Council Directive 79/409/EC on the conservation of wild birds, commonly referred to as the 'Birds Directive', requires all Member States to maintain and protect naturally occurring birds in the wild. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht have designated sites known as Special Protection Areas (SPA's) to give effect to this...

Written Answers — Commonage Division: Commonage Division (14 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: It is anticipated that the review of Commonage Framework Plans, which is currently ongoing, will be completed shortly. The review is being carried out by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, with assistance from my Department. When completed, the review, which is being conducted at individual parcel level, will indicate both the minimum and the maximum livestock units that will have to...

Written Answers — Sheepmeat Sector: Sheepmeat Sector (14 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The market performance of the sheep sector, in common with other agricultural sectors, is a function of supply and demand. The long-term future of the sector will depend on its ability to satisfy the market and in order to do this well, it much focus on competitiveness, innovation and the demands of the consumer. Food Harvest 2020 sets a target of 20% increase in output value for the sheep...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (14 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm to the Deputy I fully intend to have a robust appeals system for those farmers who may find themselves adversely affected by the changes to the Terms and Conditions governing the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. Specifically, all applicants, whose stocking density was below 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare in 2011, will be written to formally and given the opportunity to...

Written Answers — Tuberculosis Incidence: Tuberculosis Incidence (14 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: As far as I can ascertain, there has been no specific research conducted in Ireland to date on the impact of forest thinning on badger movements and the spread of TB either by or on behalf of my Department or the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), the primary organisation responsible for assessing impact on and managing wild populations. Neither has my Department identified...

Written Answers — Sale of State Assets: Sale of State Assets (14 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: As announced by the Government in February, consideration will be given to the possible sale of some assets of Coillte excluding the sale of land. As I advised the Dáil Select Sub-Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine when I met with them last Thursday in relation to the Estimates for my Department, a decision has not been made to sell Coillte. We are examining options just as we...