Results 36,001-36,020 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Single Payment Scheme /Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 9 May 2011. This application was selected for a ground eligibility inspection. During the course of this inspection discrepancies were found that resulted in a claimed area of 33.15ha being reduced to 25.43ha. If the total area found is not sufficient to support the number of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2008 and received payment for the first three years of the contract period. REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require that detailed administrative checks are carried out on all applications before payments issue. During the course of the administrative check, a discrepancy...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme/Grassland Sheep Scheme was received from the person named on the 30 March 2011. This application was fully processed and payment under the Grassland Sheep Scheme issued on 18 January 2012, based, in accordance with the provisions of the scheme, on the average Sheep Census as received in 2009 and 2010, which indicated that the person named...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: In response to the Deputy's question, the salary paid to the Secretary General in my Department is currently €200,000, which takes account of a salary surrender of €15,590 and is in line with the Government Decision to adopt a general policy of a €200,000 pay ceiling for senior positions across the Public Service. The salary paid to my Private Secretary is €56,314, who also receives...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: Since May of 2011 all vacancies on the State Boards that fall under my Department's remit are listed on the Department's website. Board appointments to a number of the bodies and agencies are not always made at my sole discretion. Instead, individuals are nominated for appointment by various organisations, specified in the relevant statute. These include the Aquaculture Licensing Appeals...

Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: The milk price paid to dairy suppliers is a commercial matter between the dairy farmer and his/her processor. 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 and these are reflected in the price paid to farmers. It is encouraging to see that 2011 was a very successful...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department has two persons re-engaged on time limited contract basis. In relation to the State Agencies under my Department's aegis, the query should be addressed to the agencies themselves.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: Under the Nitrates Regulations, farmers are required to maintain certain records for each calendar year and to keep these records for five years. As part of a Cross Compliance Nitrates inspection carried out on the 21st of November 2008 the person named submitted such records to the Department. During a subsequent evaluation of these records the maximum fertilisation rate for available...

Written Answers — Sugar Industry: Sugar Industry (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: The EU Sugar Regime underwent a radical reform in 2005 and Greencore, the holder of the entire Irish sugar quota availed of the sugar restructuring scheme, dismantled its facilities and ceased production in 2006. Post reform production is now concentrated in 18 Member States. The present regime runs from 1 September 2006 to the 30 September 2015. There is no mechanism under the present EU...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: It is widely recognised that the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is a very important one for this country, as the total area designated as disadvantaged is almost 75% of Ireland's total land area. From an economic perspective, the Scheme is particularly significant, contributing to the support of in excess of 100,000 Irish farm families, whose ability to farm is restricted by the physical...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 13 May 2011, during processing of which a discrepancy arose between area declared by the person named and information given by the person named on a Transfer of Entitlement form. An official from my Department has been in direct contact with the person named with a view to resolving this matter and...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1 November 2010 and full payment has 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, had to be completed before any...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 540, 541, 542 and 543 together. It is widely recognised that the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is a very important one for this country, as the total area designated as disadvantaged is almost 75% of Ireland's total land area. From an economic perspective, the Scheme is particularly significant, contributing to the support of in excess of 100,000 Irish farm...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2008 and received payments for the first three years of the contract period. 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, had to be completed before any payment could issue in respect of 2011. These checks...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department operates a number of grants and scheme payments for farmers. Funding for these schemes is provided by the Exchequer, the EU or a combination of both and all expenditure must be carried out in an appropriate manner and in strict compliance with the regulatory requirements. Area-based schemes under the Rural Development Programme, 2007-13, in particular, are subject to EU...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: As Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I attend the EU Council of Ministers (Agriculture and Fisheries). Between 2007 and the end of 2011, there were 54 formal meetings of the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers and 11 informal meetings. Ireland was represented at the majority of these meetings at Ministerial level either by the sitting Minister and/or, when fisheries items...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: It is widely recognised that the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is a very important one for this country, as the total area designated as disadvantaged is almost 75% of Ireland's total land area. From an economic perspective, the Scheme is particularly significant, contributing to the support of in excess of 100,000 Irish farm families, whose ability to farm is restricted by the physical...

Written Answers — Seafood Industry: Seafood Industry (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Irish National Seafood Programme was published in July 2010 and sets out a framework for Exchequer grant aid for certain aspects of the seafood industry, including aquaculture and seafood processing. The National Programme is complimentary to the Seafood Development Operational Programme 2007-2013, which sets out a framework for EU co-funded grant aid to certain other aspects of the...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: No application has been received in respect of a deep sea fish farm off the Aran Islands. However it is understood that such an application is being prepared on behalf of Bord Iascaigh Mhara. An application, if received, will be processed in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997 which include a period of public consultation.

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: I have examined this matter and I am satisfied that the position, with regard to the response that issued on 6 September 2011 from my Department to the person in Co. Carlow, remains unchanged.