Results 35,321-35,340 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: Botulism is a disease caused by a bacterium of the Clostridia family, the organisms are widely distributed in nature but only occasionally give rise to clinical disease in animals or humans. Outbreaks of botulism occur when cattle consume feed material that has become contaminated with decomposing carcase material and it can also be associated with the storage and spreading of poultry litter...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The People's Millennium Forests Project was a flagship Millennium project sponsored by the National Millennium Committee and AIB and managed by Coillte in association with Woodlands of Ireland. This was the largest ever project directed at the expansion and enhancement of our native woodlands. There were 16 sites involved in this project, 14 of which are in the Republic of Ireland and two...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: Area VIa off the north west coast has a diverse ecosystem. The main commercial invertebrate species is nephrops, which is targeted on the continental shelf west of Scotland. Fisheries dredging for scallops and some smaller bivalves exist west of Scotland, as well as pot fisheries exploiting lobster and brown crab. Ireland's has a small quota for nephrops. The shelf edge is a spawning area...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named joined the Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) in 2010 and his selected measures under the scheme included Traditional Hay Meadow and Species Rich Grassland. He also joined the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) in 2010. Payment under the OFS and AEOS for land submitted under the Traditional Hay Meadow or Species Rich Grassland is primarily based on the same principle which is...

Written Answers — Sale of State Assets: Sale of State Assets (18 Apr 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. A valuation of Coillte assets is currently being undertaken by the NTMA (NewERA unit) in conjunction with my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. No decision on the possible sale of Coillte assets will be taken until...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The persons named were approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st September 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 completed before any payment can issue. During these checks a...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: Council Regulation No. 1290 of 2005 requires the Department to publish on its website certain details on beneficiaries of schemes funded or co-funded by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) or the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). Following a European Court of Justice Judgement in 2010 only data relating to beneficiaries who are legal persons are being...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: As indicated in response to a previous question from the Deputy on 29th March 2012, this case is currently subject to a review. This review is at an advanced stage and a decision will be forwarded to the person named in the coming days. If the person named is not satisfied with the outcome of the review he can have the case referred to the Independent Agriculture Appeals Office.

Written Answers — Poultry Industry: Poultry Industry (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: Birds which are presented for slaughter in establishments which operate under the supervision of my Department are subjected to ante-mortem examination by an official veterinarian, as required by Regulation (EC) No. 854 of 2004. Detailed instructions and guidelines for ante-mortem inspection include taking note of the numbers of birds which are dead on arrival and evidence of dirty birds as...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Hygiene Package of regulation, which came into force in all European Union Member States on 1 January 2006, provides as follows in relation to cleanliness of livestock being presented for slaughter. Food business operators (FBOs) rearing animals or producing primary products of animal origin are to take adequate measures, as appropriate and as far as possible, to ensure the cleanliness...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: 153 meat processing plants including 48 slaughterhouses currently operate under the supervision of my Department, in accordance with the terms of EU Food Hygiene Regulations. These plants are supervised by 53 veterinary inspectors (VIs) employed by the Department, assisted in their duties by 180 agricultural officers (AOs) and by temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs) who are drawn from a...

Written Answers — Animal Breeding Regulations: Animal Breeding Regulations (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: There are no hatcheries producing commercial layers in Ireland (these are the type of hatchery which only require female chicks) therefore my Department does not retain details on number of male chicks killed.

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The legal position on tail docking and tooth clipping of pigs is set out in the European Communities (Welfare of Farmed Animals) Regulations 2010, S.I. No. 311 of 2010 which states that tail docking or tooth clipping should not be carried out routinely except where injuries to sows' teats or to other pigs' ears or tails have occurred. Where tooth clipping appears necessary, this shall be...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The practice of hormone injection of sows in order to bring forward the cycle of the sow is not common throughout the pig industry. These treatments, when used, are an aid to fertility, and as such do not give rise to any ethical or welfare issues. Furthermore, the increased cost of hormone treatment has resulted in a decline in such treatments.

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: Food produced in Ireland is farmed to the highest standards and in compliance with all relevant EU Public Health and Animal Health and Welfare regulations. As an essential component of a Single European Market, the development of objective definitions around methods of production at farm level and the relevant labelling requirements takes place at EU level. There are a number of regulations...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: Under EU Regulations governing the Direct Payment Schemes my Department is required to recover any monies resulting from the application of reductions and/or penalties. My Department is obliged to recover the amount from either the payment due for the calendar year of application or from payments due in future calendar years if not already repaid in full by the applicant. Where an...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted an application for grant-aid under the Sheep Fencing/Mobile Handling Equipment Scheme and received approval to commence the investment works concerned on 12 April 2012. Payment of grant-aid will be processed when the project has been completed and a documented claim has submitted to my Department.

Written Answers — Poultry Industry: Poultry Industry (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1108 to 1110, inclusive, together. Poultry egg production is a small but important component of the Irish agri-food sector. Output is valued at approximately €30 million. Unlike most sectors, the egg sector is largely domestically focussed with competition from imports an ongoing issue. Approximately 85% of eggs consumed in Ireland are produced...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: Eligibility under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is established, inter alia , by satisfying the requirement as to minimum stocking density of an applicant's holding. Those farmers for whom sheep contribute in whole or in part to satisfying this requirement are obliged annually to submit an appropriately completed Sheep Census return to my Department. The Census provides for a number of...

Written Answers — Sugar Industry: Sugar Industry (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: As part of the reform of the EU Sugar Regime in 2006, a temporary restructuring scheme was introduced with the aim of reducing EU sugar production to comply with WTO and other international obligations. The Scheme was negotiated and agreed by the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers in the latter part of 2005 and resulted in the formal adoption by Ministers of the EU Council Regulation (EC) No...