Results 35,861-35,880 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney
- Common Agricultural Policy (9 Feb 2012)
Simon Coveney: Exactly. I am glad the question was tabled because we had a very useful visit from Commissioner Ciolos a number of weeks ago. Deputies Michael Moynihan and Michael Colreavy made a number of extremely relevant points to the Commissioner during the Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture's meeting with him. I had an opportunity to spend approximately three hours...
- Common Agricultural Policy (9 Feb 2012)
Simon Coveney: We are at one on this issue but it is important to state the big issue for us is the redistribution of direct payments. We also require clarity on rural development funds. We still do not know how this funding will be distributed between the member states. Let us be clear that 2014 issue needs to be resolved but it is not the big issue. The big issue for us is to ensure the â¬1.3 billion...
- Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (9 Feb 2012)
Simon Coveney: This question is slightly confusing in terms of how it is worded, but I believe I know what it is getting at and I would like to bring clarity to the changes we have made to disadvantaged areas payments. It is important to say I had repeatedly stated to farmers in disadvantaged areas in the build-up to the budget that we would need to make savings from the schemes because we could not make...
- Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (9 Feb 2012)
Simon Coveney: To be clear, any farmers who must have a low stocking rate because they farm in a commonage area and therefore must abide by a commonage framework programme which requires them to have a low stocking rate are exempt from any cuts and their payments will be maintained. This is about what happened last year, as last year is the reference year for stocking rates. If one was below the threshold...
- Milk Quota (9 Feb 2012)
Simon Coveney: I suspect this question has come from Deputy Moynihan because he rightly asks it, or some version of it, during every Question Time on agriculture. It concerns the milk soft landing. I have had informal meetings with the new Danish Presidency. There is a new Danish Minister following elections some months before Denmark took the Presidency. Ireland and Denmark are very much at one on this...
- Milk Quota (9 Feb 2012)
Simon Coveney: I would love to have a Europe wide milk quota. It would mean we could increase Europe's output of milk by 4% or 5% because that was the amount it was under quota last year but we must get real. We cannot even get agreement on a butterfat adjustment never mind a radical rethink in terms of the way we manage quota across the European Union. I agree with the Deputy on that but it is important...
- Pigmeat Sector (9 Feb 2012)
Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 16 together. Ireland is more than 150% self-sufficient in pigmeat with the result that export values reached almost â¬400 million last year, an increase of 18% compared to 2010. The industry supports more than 7,000 jobs in farming, milling, processing and ancillary services. It is the third largest component of Irish agriculture after dairy and...
- Pigmeat Sector (9 Feb 2012)
Simon Coveney: That is a fair point. With the development of the artisan food sector in Ireland, we are finding new ways of adding value to product that can target different types of premium markets. In the past we were very much a commodity food producer. We produced milk to produce cheese or milk powder but now we produce milk to produce both products and, on top of that, we produce sports nutrition...
- Pigmeat Sector (9 Feb 2012)
Simon Coveney: Yes.
- Pigmeat Sector (9 Feb 2012)
Simon Coveney: I am not that young.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Feb 2012)
Simon Coveney: The budgeted expenditure under the 2012 Scheme will be reduced from â¬220 million to â¬190 million and, in order to achieve the â¬30 million saving in expenditure, it is proposed to introduce specified changes to the Scheme eligibility criteria for 2012. This will be achieved by making technical adjustments to the Scheme criteria to ensure that the aid payment is focused on farmers, whose...
- Written Answers — ElectronElectronic Taggingic Tagging: ElectronElectronic Taggingic Tagging (9 Feb 2012)
Simon Coveney: As part of the revision to the National Sheep Identification System (NSIS) consequent, on the introduction of electronic identification of sheep in 2010, across the E.U, my Department has already introduced a new system for sheep tagging. Before introducing this new system my Department consulted widely with the industry. The purpose of these discussions was, within the regulation, to...
- Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (9 Feb 2012)
Simon Coveney: I wish to advise the House that no decision has been taken by the Government in relation to the potential sale of Coillte. As I have advised the House on a number of occasions, I consider that it is essential to maximise the information available to the Government in order to make an informed decision which will not compromise the State's core asset, which is the land Coillte manages on...
- Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (9 Feb 2012)
Simon Coveney: Since I took up office in March of last year, I have made it a priority to build up alliances with my counterparts in like-minded Member States in order to garner support for my position on the proposed reform of the CAP. Last year I had formal bilateral meetings with the EU Agriculture Commissioner and with my German, French, UK, Spanish, Estonian, Finnish and Danish Ministerial colleagues....
- Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (9 Feb 2012)
Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government committed to replacing the criminal sanctions system for minor fisheries offences with administrative sanction system to bring Ireland into line with other European jurisdictions. I sought the advice of the Attorney General on the matter. The Attorney General has responded with a detailed advice on the issue which I am currently examining. The advice highlights...
- Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (9 Feb 2012)
Simon Coveney: Article 6 of Council Regulation No. 1224/2009, establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy, provides that a fishing vessel may only be used for commercial fishing if it has a valid fishing licence. This EU legal requirement is reflected in our national fishing boat licensing system and I have no discretion in the matter. The...
- Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (9 Feb 2012)
Simon Coveney: Market forces have a major influence on the price paid to farmers for milk, as world market prices for dairy products determine the returns received by dairy processors which are reflected in the price paid to farmers. While 2011 was a very successful year for the dairy industry, with an average milk price paid to farmers of 34 cent per litre, the milk price paid to dairy suppliers is...
- Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (9 Feb 2012)
Simon Coveney: Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres, which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department. I am aware of the difficulties that the build up of mud and silt at Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre causes for the various vessels using the harbour. Dredging costs are always significant and my Department did commission a feasibility study...
- Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (9 Feb 2012)
Simon Coveney: The Irish beef industry has had remarkable success in the last decade in transforming its focus from commodity markets to high value EU markets. In fact some 96% of Irish beef exports go to EU markets. In 2011, beef exports were worth around â¬1.8 billion to the economy and it is estimated that 96% of total Irish beef exports in volume terms were within the EU where they were destined for...
- Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (9 Feb 2012)
Simon Coveney: This is an operational matter for Teagasc. Under the Agriculture, (Research, Training and Advice) Act, 1988 Teagasc has statutory responsibility for the delivery of education, advisory and research services to the agriculture sector. Teagasc develops its programmes, services and activities in conjunction with its clients and partners overseen by an Authority that is representative of the main...