Results 34,961-34,980 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Tree Felling: Tree Felling (24 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: While the owner of the land on which a tree stands may apply for a felling licence under the Forestry Act 1946, no provision exists to allow persons to fell trees on another person's land without the permission of the landowner and without a felling licence, as required under the Act. Section 51 of the Forestry Act 1946 states that a person may "..remove or cause or permit to be removed...

Written Answers — Wildlife Protection: Wildlife Protection (24 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The legislative responsibility of my Department covers farmed animals only. However, while foxes do not come under the remit of my Department, I am nevertheless aware of the increased number of foxes living in urban areas in recent times. As the mating season takes place in January/February, foxes are particularly noticeable at this time of year as the young foxes begin to emerge from the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named joined REPS 4 in June 2008 and received payments for the first three years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and accordingly is subject to EU regulation which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. These checks have now been completed and the 75% REPS...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (24 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as mentioned by the Deputy, are the responsibility of the company.

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (23 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: Dooks Slipway, Glenbeigh is in the ownership of Kerry County Council and responsibility for its repair and maintenance rests with the Local Authority in the first instance. My Department did receive an application from Kerry County Council for funding for a total of 7 projects for inclusion in the 2012 Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. No application for funding...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted an application for consideration of an allocation of entitlements under the New Entrant category of the 2010 National Reserve. This category caters for farmers who commenced farming after 15 May 2008. Successful applicants under this category were required to meet certain criteria in relation to income limits and educational qualifications. The application was...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named registered five animals under the 2010 Suckler Welfare Scheme and one animal under the 2011 Scheme. The Terms and Conditions specify the requirements of the Scheme, which provide that participants must carry out the prescribed measures and notify the Department of the completion of each of these measures. These requirements are mandatory for the entire five year period of the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted an application form for the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme on 16th May 2011 having completed the Form B option, indicating that he had no designated lands. 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 completed...

Written Answers — Poultry Industry: Poultry Industry (23 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together. The farm gate value of the poultry sector, at €150m (approx €120m meat and €30m eggs), accounts for approximately 3% of gross agricultural output. Within this, the turkey production sector is a small niche element which is highly seasonal and which has a high level of vertical integration. Food Harvest 2020 targets a 10% increase in...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: -----although I know a lot about dogs. My dog is certainly not a show dog. My understanding is one cannot dock a dog's tail for display purposes. I am pretty confident about that. Perhaps I am wrong but if it is taking place, my view is that I do not think we should allow it. We should not dock a dog's tail to make it look pretty. If there is a reason to dock a dog's tail in terms of...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: If someone wants to make representations to me on the issue, I will consider it in the context of regulations, but I would need to be convinced that we should be docking dogs' tails to make them look like nicer show animals. I am being patronising. There are many show breeders and I have no difficulty with that activity. I am supportive of it. However, many of the people concerned are...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: I will reassure Members. We will not introduce a statutory instrument with a series of regulations without having engaged in broad consultations. It is important that we not do anything that would inconvenience people or animals unnecessarily. The legislation will not have a negative impact on commercial farming where there is good reason to use normal, sensible farming practices in...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: If the Senator reads the section, he will see that it reads, a "person shall not, except in accordance with animal health and welfare regulations, [this is where the statutory instrument comes in] perform an operation or procedure (with or without the use of instruments) involving interference with the sensitive tissue". It is a question of ensuring people do not cut costs and corners by...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: I have been told that the 1876 Act applies. In fairness, that is not a credible answer for me to give. The issue raised by the Senator is predominantly the responsibility of the Department of Health, as it is not an agricultural animal issue as such, rather it is a scientific and animal testing issue. Some are uncomfortable with the activity, but others regard it as a necessary evil. This...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: We had a discussion about this whole section in the Department before coming into the Seanad today. There is a problem with this because several Departments and several Acts deal with poison. They could be the wildlife Acts which come under the responsibility of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, or Department of Health rules and regulations in place around the use of poisons....

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: For what it is worth, my understanding is that the National Parks and Wildlife Service wanted us to ban the laying of all poisons except for rats and mice. We were trying to put limits on how poison can be used and where it can be used to protect the birds Senators have mentioned. We all have an obligation to protect wildlife. There is no reason commercial farming cannot take place at the...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: I will clarify a number of things. The legislation is about all animals and that is the point. It is about bringing all animals, whether they are domestic pets, companions or used on farms or for sports, under a common standard and set of rules that are required to outline how they should be protected and the responsibility that goes with ownership of an animal. The five freedoms referred...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: Farm animals are protected animals.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: A protected animal is defined as "...an animal of a kind commonly kept for farming, recreational, domestic or sporting purposes on the island of Ireland ... when it is in the possession or under the control of a human being, whether permanently or on a temporary basis or not living in a wild state...". In other words, the animal must be in captivity. An intensive housing unit is defined as...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: This is the terminology that is used in existing legislation and it relates to the type of mineral licks farmers give to cattle, sheep and horses. The section refers to nourishment that is required by certain species or breeds. This may involve extra minerals which may be required in the context of their development or growth. The paragraph adds to what is contained in section 13(1)(a) and...