Results 341-360 of 450 for going forward speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Milk Quota (31 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: ...to give effect to this flexibility at national level. This announcement will serve as a major boost to dairy farmers in helping to ease the cashflow burden of paying the superlevy bill. On-going contact has been maintained with the Minister for Finance to ensure that existing and future taxation policy reflects the Government’s commitment to agriculture. Of interest to dairy...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Recruitment (24 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: ...words there is a dispute, I suspect, over the level of incentive to get people into this specialist training area. It is dangerous work, quite frankly, and requires about two years of training. We are going through the usual procedures to agree a way forward and a compromise that everyone will accept and agree upon. After that, we will be pressing ahead with an active recruitment...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (24 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: ...been referred to local offices for approval; 10% will be subject to a prepayment inspection, while 315 of the 1,900 have been approved. We are rolling out the scheme as fast as we can, but we must go through a process. We cannot spend European money without ensuring the correct percentage of pre-inspections. The money must, however, be spent this year. It is money under the last rural...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (24 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Yes, but that is not going to happen in a dramatic way, it will happen in a controlled way. We spend nearly €10 million per year supporting the World Food Programme, WFP. To be clear, some people seem to think that I if I did not spend that money thus, I would be able to spend the €10 million on farmers but that is not the case. This is part of the Government's contribution...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Exports (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: ...market is potentially lucrative, with consumption at 11 million metric tonnes annually, which makes this new market such an exciting one for Irish producers. While grass fed is a small volume category compared to conventional or grain fed beef, currently accounting for approximately 10% of total volume, it is estimated to be growing at approximately 20%+ per annum. Consumers in this...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (10 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: ...year, as well as any payment received under the Grassland Sheep Scheme. Therefore while the person named held 43.28 entitlements and only claimed 33.60 hectares my Department will establish his value (going forward) based on the 43.28 entitlements.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon (27 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: ...of the Board of Bord na gCon is 3 years. Notwithstanding the expiry of a term of office Board members continue to hold office until such time as the Minister appoints a person to replace the out-going member. The terms of office of Mr Mattie Murphy, Ms Ríona Heffernan, Mr Timothy Gilbert and Mr Tony McNamee were due to expire on 1 December 2014, however they remain in situ until...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: ..., m y role as Minister for Agriculture is to create a policy support environment that will allow the beef sector to flourish in line with normal market principles. In this regard, I have brought forward a number of initiatives to help the sector, including the creation of the Beef Genomics Scheme with a budget of €23 million in 2014 , payments for which issued to farmers last...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry Development (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: ...Commission, will deliver a payment per animal of €100 for the first ten animals, with the remaining animals being eligible for an €80 payment per animal in participating herds. In 2014, I have brought forward a number of initiatives to help the sector, including the creation of the Beef Genomics Scheme with a budget of €23 million in 2014. I have also ensured that the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sea-Fisheries Sustainability Impact Assessment: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (2 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: We have done okay in the negotiations on the new fisheries fund. Under the previous CFP, Ireland received a total of €70 million from the fund. This time we will receive €147 million, which is more than double what we received the last time. The €32 million for data collection will come out of that. More than €70 million will be available for sea-fisheries...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sea-Fisheries Sustainability Impact Assessment: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (2 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: The annual fishing opportunities for fishing fleets are traditionally agreed at the December Fisheries Council. This year, the arrangements for 2015 are due to be negotiated at the Council scheduled for 15 and 16 December. The levels of total allowable catch, TAC, and the quotas for Ireland will again be determined at that meeting following negotiations with member states and the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Legal Cases (4 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: ...the courts by or on behalf of my Department, I can advise the Deputy that in a number of instances, files are submitted to the independent office of the DPP, who decides on whether cases should go forward or not – and indeed determines what the appropriate charges are. In other cases, files are prepared with the assistance of the independent CSSO. In all cases, whether prosecuted by...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Vote 30 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: Farmers can look forward to an increased RDP spend every year for the next six years if we are going to get to an average spend of €565 million. However, we cannot go straight from €405 million to €565 million overnight, given budgetary constraints and the expenditure profile. It does show the success of negotiations around getting Exchequer co-funding for a rural...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Vote 30 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: ...new markets we have discussed is affected. Within our Department it would not be an exaggeration to say we are somewhat obsessed with hygiene and food safety. We need to be because when things go wrong it is as if there is a red alert in the Department due to the potential for reputational damage. That is why we have carried out 9,500 food safety and hygiene inspections. By the end of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Vote 30 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: ...in same. As we head into the final quarter of 2014, we have many successes on which to reflect and, in equal measure, many challenges to face. I am pleased to have secured agreement at Government level for a new rural development programme worth €4 billion in the 2014-22 period. The plan is in Brussels and I look forward to securing approval which, in turn, will enable me to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture and Fisheries Councils and Report on Promoting Sustainable Rural Coastal and Island Communities: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (10 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: ...the stock in those areas. However, we must get the feedback and data before we can do it. At the moment, the perceived scientific wisdom is that the cut-off point should be 127 mm and that is what we are going for. Of course people are getting compensated for putting them back. I am keen for V-notching to be compulsory. However, I would prefer this to come from the industry because...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grassland Sheep Scheme Expenditure (27 May 2014)

Simon Coveney: ..., in 2009, with payments worth some €7 million. The USP was replaced for the period 2010 to 2014, inclusive, by the Grassland Sheep Scheme, total payments in the period totalling €83 million. Going forward, these GSS payments are being incorporated into the new Basic Payment Scheme, under which the vast majority of sheep farmers will also benefit from convergence in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Remuneration (18 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: ...to satisfactory service. Upon reaching the maximum of the salary scale, two long service increments may be paid after a further three years and six years, again subject to satisfactory service. Going forward, payment of increments will be paid in accordance with the provisions of the Haddington Road Agreement.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: ...mistreatment included the issuance of welfare notices, confiscation of horses and a number of prosecutions. This data is currently being collated, together with details of prosecutions, and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. The majority of these horses are removed under the Control of Horses Act by the relevant Local Authority. Unfortunately many of the animals in...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy and Rural Development Programme: Statements (22 Jan 2014)

Simon Coveney: ...that would suit their own ambitions, farming structures, land use, crop types and so on. Our plan for the agri-food sector is very clear. It is called Food Harvest 2020 and was put in place by the previous Government in terms of setting the ambition. It is certainly being implemented and built upon by this Government. It was in that context that we approached the CAP reform process....