Results 35,201-35,220 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (3 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: Operational matters such as this are properly the responsibility of the Teagasc Authority and not the Minister. I am advised by Teagasc that they have closed the office in Bagnelstown and plan to dispose of it on completion of certain matters relating to the conveyance. The Deputy may wish to contact Teagasc directly for further detail.

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (3 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Agri-environment Options Scheme is designed to protect biodiversity, encourage water management/quality and contribute to climate change. The scheme provides for a considerable degree of flexibility in achieving these objectives and farmers to may implement measures from a range or menu of options which are best suited to their own circumstances. Participants in AEOS have been approved...

Written Answers — Fishing Discards: Fishing Discards (3 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: Finding practical and implementable solutions to the wasteful practice of discarding fish is a major priority issue for me. It is an important element of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy which is currently under consideration at the EU Fisheries Council and the EU Parliament. Ireland has been to the forefront in the drive to reduce and eliminate discards and has taken a number of...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (3 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: Appointments to the Boards of BIM, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, the Marine Institute and other fisheries related State boards that come under the remit of my Department are made in accordance with the legislation establishing the respective agencies and in compliance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. In making appointments to boards I take into...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: Eight staff of my Department who were under the maximum retirement age and headquartered in County Waterford retired in the period from 1 January 2012 to date. No Waterford based staff of my Department retired on age regulations (i.e. having reached the age of 65) during this period.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (3 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: I understand I only have five or six minutes.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (3 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: I will be as comprehensive as I can in answering Senators' questions. Puppy farms have given rise to ongoing issues and this why the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 has been commenced. It was necessary to delay that legislation until we finalised the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 because there was crossover between general dog breeding and greyhound breeding, which was already...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (3 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to introduce the Bill into the Seanad. We have had a number of discussions on agriculture, animal health issues and veterinary practice. As the engagement from Senators has been hugely positive, I considered it appropriate to introduce the Bill in the Seanad before taking it to the other House as there are many Members here who want to get engaged in the detail of the...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (3 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: An important element in drafting the Bill has been to reduce bureaucracy. One development in line with this aim is the introduction of an on-the-spot penalty for minor offences and has advantages for the individual and the State. It avoids the time and costs of court proceedings. There is recourse to the courts for individuals who do not wish to pay an on-the-spot penalty and to contest an...

Written Answers — Fisheries Sector: Fisheries Sector (2 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The operation of the Ice Plants is wholly a matter for BIM and hence the Dingle Ice Plant comes under the remit of BIM. BIM is an independent statutory body and hence policy in relation to the operation and management of the ice plants is a matter for the Agency. The Department, which has no function in relation to the operation of ice plants, has forwarded the request to BIM for its...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (2 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: All trade with third countries is to be welcomed and my Department will continue to support and facilitate the veterinary health certification of the animals in question and to ensure that the EU rules in relation to welfare/transport requirements are complied with. This particular market is open to any Irish supplier who can satisfy market demands.

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (2 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: My understanding is that the named person is not in a position, for health reasons, to utilise his quota but is anxious to retain it for a number of years in order to provide his son with access to milk quota, should his son decide to become a dairy farmer. Under the Milk Quota Regulations, a person who is unable to supply milk for two consecutive quota years is entitled to retain his quota...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st September 2010 and full payment totalling €603.92 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 — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (2 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: In order to prove farmer status the persons named must supply documentary evidence that at least 25% of their income was derived from farming for one of the 3 years prior to planting. An acceptable form of documentary evidence would be one of the following:a Revenue Commissioners Tax Assessment; TF1 income certificate completed by Teagasc; TF 2 income certificate completed by an agricultural...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: Having had this matter investigated, it transpires that, due to a technical error, incomplete data was included on the pre-printed 2012 Single Payment Scheme application form which issued recently to the person named. I have had arrangements made to have a corrected version issued immediately.

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (2 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The background to these changes is that the main constraint to the eradication of TB, the presence of the disease in badgers, is now being addressed in a very effective manner and, if we want to progress towards eradication, we need to move on to address some of the other constraints such as the movement of high risk animals and animals from high risk herds. For these reasons, the Department...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (2 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: Teagasc is a non-commercial state body under the aegis of my Department. Under the Act establishing Teagasc, it is charged with the provision of research, advice and education services in support of Ireland's agrifood industry. The manner in which these services are delivered is an operational matter for Teagasc. I understand that Teagasc offers an online service to all users who access its...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2011 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Schemes was received from the person named on 12 May 2011, processing of which has recently been finalised. An advance of the Single Payment issued to the person named on 10 November 2011 with the final balancing payment issuing on 20 April 2012. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued on 16 November 2011. The...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (26 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: It is not possible to determine from the information provided whether a claim has been submitted under REPS in respect of the lands referred to. The Department's Land Parcel Identification system, rather than folio numbers, is used to identify land parcels for the purposes of the area based schemes, including REPS which are operated by my Department. I should also point out that it is not the...

Written Answers — On-farm Investment Schemes: On-farm Investment Schemes (26 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The criteria used to assess applications for grant-aid received under the Dairy Equipment Scheme are set out in paragraph 4 of its terms and conditions which are available on my Department's website. Priority is given to those applications which receive the highest marks in the selection exercise. Eligible applications which do not receive approval in the particular tranche concerned are...