Results 37,401-37,420 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: Under the EU Regulations governing the Agri-environment Options Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. I expect that payments to participants in the scheme in respect of the first year will commence in August and that payments in...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (21 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: Last May, notification was placed on my Department's website inviting expressions of interest from persons interested in being appointed to the boards of State Bodies and Agencies under the aegis of my Department. Such persons can submit a short note or CV through stateboardvacancies@agriculture.gov.ie. These applications will be considered when appointments are being made to any of these...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (21 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: The pier at Dunquin is owned by Kerry County Council and the responsibility for its repair and maintenance lies with the Local Authority in the first instance. The Office of Public Works is responsible for the pier at An Blascaod Mór. My Department's Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme does, however, provide funding for Local Authority owned Piers and Harbours...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: As the transfer of functions is currently the subject of discussions between the relevant Departments this has delayed the alteration of title for the time being. Therefore, issues surrounding new logos, stationery etc. have not been finalised.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (21 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: It is not possible to provide this information in the required time. I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (21 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: Due to the volume of the information requested by the Deputy, it was not possible to provide it in the required time. I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (21 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: No board member of a State Agency coming within the aegis of my Department is paid fees in excess of €50,000. This is in accordance with Department of Finance instructions governing the payment of such fees.

Common Fisheries Policy Reform: Statements (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: I will try to respond to that profound comment at the end. As I have only five minutes, I wish to concentrate on the job at hand which is to get the best deal possible from the existing document on the table. I agree with Deputy Pringle that the idea that we sold out fishing to get a good deal on farming is totally inaccurate. Ireland's deal on farming is no better or worse than that of...

Common Fisheries Policy Reform: Statements (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: That is not true. Practically every pelagic boat has done very well in recent years.

Common Fisheries Policy Reform: Statements (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: However, we should consider the catch. The capacity for catch is just as high now. That said, I am not happy with the state of the industry. We have the capacity to expand the fishing industry but we need to use the tools available to us to do that. In recent weeks we have been trying to encourage the catch in Irish waters by non-Irish trawlers to be landed in Irish ports to be processed...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: In the context of the Croke Park Agreement, my Department is implementing a range of actions, including those aimed at achieving greater flexibility of staff deployments, changes in work practices and cost efficient service delivery. The Deputy's proposal is compatible with the objectives set down in the Agreement.

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with Section 49(3) of the Forestry Act 1946 each General Felling Licence granted by the Forest Service contains a compulsory replanting condition to replant the cleared area within 12 months of expiry of the licence. This condition transfers to the successor in title if the lands concerned are sold on. Under Section 4 (3) of the Forestry Act 1946, legal proceedings for...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: The EU Directive referred to is the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive, 85/337/EEC (as amended). The primary objective of the EIA Directive is to ensure that projects which are likely to have significant effects on the environment are subject to a prior assessment of their likely impacts before a decision is taken as to whether consent is granted to proceed. The European Court...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: I have responsibility for attendance at meetings of the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers. Since the formation of this Government, I have attended all six formal meetings held and one informal meeting.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 279 together. BIM is an independent statutory body and the main provider of vocational training to the seafood industry and hence policy in this regard is a matter for the Agency. I am examining a request received from BIM in the last week for additional staff to meet the needs of delivering the Skipper Full Certificate course. This request must be...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: My Department has reviewed the file in this case and, as the person concerned has been informed on numerous occasions in the past, the position remains unchanged from that outlined in reply to previous Parliamentary Questions and representations. As the person concerned is aware, these matters have been fully dealt with by the Irish courts many years ago and it neither possible not...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: My Department is involved in the payment of a wide range of grants and subventions including, for example, payments under the Single Payment Scheme to some 130,000 beneficiaries and area based compensation allowances to some 102,000 farmers. The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department and the resources required to compile the level of detail would not be...

Written Answers — Horticulture Sector: Horticulture Sector (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: In 2010 the output value of horticulture, including the potato sector was estimated at €391.4 millions, as follows: Horticulture Product 2009Values€ million 2010Values€ million % change Main Counties of production Mushrooms 98.8 98.5 -0.3 Monaghan, Kildare, Tipperary Field Vegetables 71.4 59.9 -16.1 Dublin, Meath, Wexford, Cork Protected Crops 70.6 71.6 +1.4 Dublin, Wexford...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Agriculture Appeals Office received the appeal from the person named on 24th January 2011. The Department's file was received at this office on 10th February 2011 and was assigned to an Appeals Officer on 23rd February 2011 for adjudication. The appeal is currently under consideration by the Appeals Officer and it is anticipated that the decision will be available in the near future....

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named has submitted an application for an allocation of milk quota under the Hardship Category of the Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal for the 2011/ 2012 quota year. The closing date for receipt of applications for this Scheme was 1st July last. Officials of my Department are currently processing the applications. The Tribunal will shortly commence consideration of these applications...