Results 35,361-35,380 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Land Commission Records: Land Commission Records (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The records of the former Irish Land Commission, mainly documents and maps, are stored in the Records Branch of my Department, located in the Clonminam Industrial Estate, Portlaoise and are considered to be current day to day working documents and have not been handed over to the National Archives. The Estate title documents are privately owned by the Estates Vendors and their Assigns, and...

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

Simon Coveney: The forestry premium was paid to the applicant on 4th April 2012.

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

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in April 2009 and received payments for the first two years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. Following the administrative check an area discrepancy was...

Written Answers — Fishing Vessel Licences: Fishing Vessel Licences (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The fishing vessel referred to by the Deputy had a polyvalent licence and has access to fish stocks in accordance with the policy in place for relevant fish stocks, including mackerel and herring. The vessel has not been licensed by the Sea Fishing Boat Licensing Authority since September 2010. In relation to mackerel, the Minister introduced new management arrangements in late 2010...

Written Answers — Beef Exports: Beef Exports (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Food Harvest report published in 2010, offers a vision for the long-term development of the agri food sector and in the case of the beef sector, targets an increase of 20% in the value of beef output in the period to 2020. Having regard to the dramatic price and other developments since then, the Beef Activation Group, which was established to identify the specific actions needed to...

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: I very much welcome the fact that the declining trend in numbers in our national flock is showing signs of reversal and our sheep numbers are now increasing. This reflects a growing sense of confidence amongst sheep farmers in terms of rebuilding breeding stock numbers which will ultimately lead to an increase in through-put. Whilst it is still too early to provide an accurate estimate for...

Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Food Harvest 2020 report sets out the strategic vision for the agri-food and fishing sector. From a dairying perspective, the ending of milk quotas in 2015 represents an exceptional opportunity to increase milk output, and Food Harvest has targeted a 50% increase in milk production in the period to 2020. This target is ambitious but I also believe it is realistic, because the dairy...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The material requested by the Deputy is listed in the following table. CONSULTANT PURPOSE/ NATURE OF WORK PAYMENTS IN 2011(January to December)€ Brendan Riordan Professional fee for training services on net-flow of funds calculation 6,000 Mazars IT Audit Support 56,634 ESPION Quarterly independent assessments of the Department's IT security measures as required for EU accreditation...

Written Answers — Phosphorus Levels: Phosphorus Levels (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for agriculture, necessary for both production of herbage, such as crops and grassland but also as an important mineral for animal production. It is also an expensive nutrient for Irish agriculture and if present in excess quantities can result in diminished water qualities. It is indeed correct to state that it is a mineral of finite supply. A number of...

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

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2011 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme for the person named was received in the Department on 13th April 2012. In addition, the applicant provided valid documentary evidence of postage of the original application, which has been accepted by my Department. Consequently, the application is being processed and on completion of same provided no errors are...

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

Simon Coveney: The person named does not hold any single payment entitlements. He applied to transfer 24.58 entitlements by way of lease from another farmer under the 2011 single payment scheme. EU regulations governing the scheme provide that entitlements may only be leased if accompanied by an equivalent number of hectares of eligible land. The transfer of entitlements application was rejected as the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Apr 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 €639.03 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 — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person concerned submitted an application under the Dairy Equipment Scheme under the first tranche on 27 April 2011. The application was approved into the Scheme on 10 October 2011. The applicant has submitted a payment claim and payment of the grant will take place when it has been determined that all the terms and conditions of the Scheme have been complied with. These checks will be...

Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named applied to join the Agri-Environment Options Scheme in 2011 and was notified in writing by letter dated 28 September 2011 of his acceptance into the scheme and advised that the contract commencement date was 1 September 2011. In the application submitted the person named elected to sow 2.6ha of Wild Bird Cover on a specific land parcel and approval was based on this...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: Charges at each of the six Fishery Harbour Centres are levied by virtue of the Fishery Harbour Centres (Rates & Charges) Order 2003. My Department has however recently conducted a review of the 2003 Order and I can confirm that a draft Rates & Charges Order has been published on foot of that review. That draft Order is currently the subject of a public consultation process. I can also...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The use of overseas companies for printing work by State Agencies is an operational matter for the Bodies concerned.

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (29 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: I participated in St Patrick's Day activities in Luxembourg and The Netherlands before travelling on to Brussels. I was accompanied by my Private Secretary. The 3 day itinerary included 15 separate engagements across a broad spectrum of activities including State agency related events, media briefings, Irish Community engagements and a bilateral engagement with an EU counterpart. Total costs...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (29 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: The application for 2011 Single Farm Payment Scheme was not was not submitted by the person named by the deadline of 17 May 2011. In fact, a completed application form was received from the person named in February 2012. The application form was accompanied by a letter of explanation and a medical certificate to support his appeal. Further medical evidence was sought and was received...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (29 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: Food labelling, for which the Department of Health has lead responsibility, is governed by EU legislation. Beef labelling in particular is subject to comprehensive regulations concerning the identification of bovines and the labelling of their meat. These provisions were introduced in the wake of the BSE crisis to improve traceability and food security throughout the sector. In addition to...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (29 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named joined the Suckler Welfare Scheme in 2008. He registered twelve animals in the Scheme that year and payment amounting to €880 was made for eleven of these animals during November and December 2008. Nine animals were registered in 2009 and payment issued for two of the animals in January 2010. A further six animals were registered in 2010 and eight in 2011 for which no...