Results 36,841-36,860 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Dairy Sector (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy has made a number of relevant points. On farm scale and consolidation, he is correct that farm consolidation relief ran out at the end of June. I have already submitted a package of taxation measures to the Department of Finance which it is hoped will be approved in advance of the budget. Through that package I am trying to achieve a number of things, the first of which is to...

Dairy Sector (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: I would like to finish my point. I understand there are not too many questions remaining. As such, we are not restricted in terms of time.

Dairy Sector (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: In trying to achieve economies of scale for farmers on small holdings we want to encourage farm partnerships, not alone partnerships within families but partnerships between neighbours in order that there will be a collective approach towards purchasing or leasing machinery, fertilisers, sprays and so on. Ultimately, we want to see facilities such as dairy parlours being shared to ensure...

Dairy Sector (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: There is a series of items into which farmers with small holdings could buy to help them to become more efficient and thus reduce the cost of their inputs.

Dairy Sector (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: Yes.

Dairy Sector (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: On the question about the farm consolidation relief, I would like to see this re-introduced but it is not a decision for me. I have made the recommendation but we will have to wait for the Department of Finance to issue a response. I do not want to make too many promises in advance of the budget. We have a package of taxation measures which are currently under consideration. We have...

Dairy Sector (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: The last two speakers made comments rather than asked questions.

Dairy Sector (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: The difference between politicians and economists is that we have a social responsibility as well as an economic one to ensure the country has a functioning economy and also a society that functions.

Dairy Sector (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: This is why I have repeatedly said that I have a dual priority. The first is to meet the targets in Food Harvest 2020. The second is to develop the potential of a significant opportunity for increased agri-food production while at the same time trying to support parts of the country which do not have the capacity to avail of the opportunities for growth because of farm size, fertility of...

Dairy Sector (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: I do not want to see that happening either. I believe we will see dramatic expansion in south Leinster and Munster although there are parts of Munster that have similar challenges to parts of Connacht. It is important not to label entire regions as being either productive or non-productive. It is very much a patchwork quilt. If we are to meet the targets laid out in the Food Harvest...

Food Labelling (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: Responsibility for the enforcement of general food labelling legislation including country of origin, rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, FSAI, a body under the aegis of the Minister for Health. This is achieved through service contracts between the FSAI and the relevant agencies including the Health Service Executive, the local authority veterinary service, the Sea Fisheries...

Food Labelling (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: On the second question, that is the reason we are introducing legislation. Essentially, consumers are being misled. That cheap chicken is brought into and processed in Ireland and labelled as an Irish product is something we need to move away from and that is why poultry and pigmeat will be subject to proper country of origin labelling in the not too distant future, as beef is at present....

Food Labelling (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: Whether it improved as a result of our questioning or was doing so in any case, we will never know but it is compliant now.

Priority Questions (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: It is unfortunate that some Deputies were caught off guard in regard to Priority Questions. It was only agreed at a late stage last week that the Dáil would sit today. Sinn Féin Deputies have not had an opportunity to submit questions. If they or any other Deputies have specific questions they would like answered I will happily try to facilitate them verbally or through e-mail.

Milk Quota (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: To be fair to Deputy Moynihan, he has raised this issue with me repeatedly in the House and outside it. He has similar priorities to me. We both have a concern that the Irish dairy industry may be subject to super levy fines next year if we are not careful. Last year we narrowly avoided the imposition of fines. Many people made a lot of money last year by being over quota and we were lucky...

Milk Quota (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: Even if a deal was done on butterfat correction it would only give us 2% flexibility. We are still above that rate, even though farmers have cut back significantly. It does not solve our problem but eases it somewhat. Any solution should not reward people for being massively over quota. People who have been careful and planned responsibly for expansion to operate within the quota system...

Fishing Rights (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: I have only in recent days become aware of issues in regard to pelagic draft net artisanal fishing in Inver Bay, County Donegal following a letter and supporting documentation submitted by a fisherman late last week. I am very supportive, in principle, of providing for the reintroduction of traditional fishing methods around the coast, subject to ensuring that such methods are in compliance...

Fishing Rights (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: We are trying to be constructive with regard to this matter. If we can facilitate fishermen who use traditional methods, particularly in respect of specific stocks which fall outside the TAC system, I would be extremely anxious to do so. Many restrictions are imposed on those involved in fishing in the context of effort, stocks, quotas and the tonnage that applies in respect of their boats....

Common Agricultural Policy (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: This question relates to the specific issue of the use of 2014 as a reference year for the new CAP proposals in respect of single farm payments. The Deputy will be aware that in advance of the publication of the European Commission's document on reform of the CAP, a great deal of concern was expressed to the effect that 2014 would be used as a reference year. That concern was realised when...

Common Agricultural Policy (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy makes a valid point. There is also a third group of people affected and this comprises those who have entered farming for the first time. I refer to those who are serious about active farming rather than those who are buying land in order to lease it out and obtain payment in respect of it in the medium term. The people in the third group to which I refer will not have an...