Results 37,441-37,460 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: I can revert to the Senators on aerobic digestion and the fair deal. I will speak to them afterwards or provide them with a written answer.

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: I will be as brief as possible on fisheries so that we have as long as possible for questions but there are significant matters happening in fishing and I would like to give a broad outline to Members. Yesterday, I was in a European Council meeting debating the initial draft produced by Commissioner Damanaki on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. I should have said that Ireland is in...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: It is Iceland, not Norway.

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: No, I have a speech with bullet points but I will speak in more general terms rather than reading a script because Members will find that more useful. I would like to map out the overall context in which I am planning an ambitious expansion of the food industry, increasing primary food production and adding value to raw products before they are exported from Ireland. All of the growth in the...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: To deal with the last question first, we want to ensure that it is Ireland that decides how single farm payment money is distributed in future. My preference would be to ensure that we keep payments as close as possible to where they are at present. There is an argument, which has some currency, around consideration of recoupling some payments or some element of single farm payment,...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: Yes, and we do not get as much money from the EU for it. With regard to the 1% of land in Ireland being organically farmed, I would like to see that increased but that will be a commercial decision for farmers. The price premium one can get for certain organic products, although not all products, will drive an interest in a certain amount of organic farming and I am happy to encourage that....

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: I will be brief and will not be tempted into a debate on the agri-environment options scheme by Senator Ó Domhnaill because I know many other Senators want to ask specific questions. A commitment was given in the budget last year for a new AEOS with a budget of €50 million, which was not budgeted for. That is a fact. What was budgeted for was €34 million, which was the cost of AEOS I....

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: It will not involve planning permission.

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: I will try to deal with the questions on an issue by issue basis. I cannot go into detail on environmental impact assessments and the land reclamation amendment in the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill that is coming forward, because the detail is not agreed yet. There is much concern among farm organisations, and rightly so. There is also much frustration in my Department, and...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Acting Chairman. My understanding of what we are trying to do today is that I will make an initial 20-minute presentation about the Government's approach to agriculture ranging from how the Common Agricultural Policy is panning out and the approach we are taking to reforming it in Ireland's interests to addressing the challenges we face domestically and the opportunities that...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (19 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: Under the EU regulation governing the most deprived scheme products supplied under the scheme have to be from the same food grouping as those products that are stored in Intervention. Ireland had butter and skimmed milk powder in intervention storage in 2010 and so product supplied under the scheme would have to be from the dairy grouping. One company responded to the EU tender for the...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (19 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: The legal requirements for notification and consultation for felling licences are governed by the Forestry Act 1946 and related Regulations. Under Section 37 of the Forestry Act 1946, a notice of intention to uproot or cut down a tree must be given to the Sergeant-in-Charge of the Garda Síochána Station nearest to the tree to be felled. The felling notice, otherwise known as a Limited...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named above commenced REPS 4 in August 2008. Payment totalling €4,837.28 has issued to the person named in respect of Year 1. Due to an area discrepancy between the land claimed by the person named in the Single Payment Scheme application and the REPS 4 agri-environmental plan, the file has been referred to the Regional Inspector for further investigation. My Department will...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: Bord na gCon is a commercial state body established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958. Horse Racing Ireland is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001. Decisions relating to property rental are operational matters for commercial state bodies falling within the remit of the relevant organisation. My Department does not record such information nor...

Written Answers — Harbour Development: Harbour Development (19 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: Projects to the value of €10.178 million have been approved by me under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. The projects approved are in respect of works at the six Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Howth, Killybegs, Ros an Mhíl, Dingle, Castletownbere and Dunmore East as well as several Local Authority owned piers and harbours.

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (19 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 422 and 423 together. Under the Terms and Conditions of the Bioenergy Scheme, a grant is paid towards the cost of establishing the bioenergy crop. The same rate of aid is provided for willow and miscanthus. Applicants must give an undertaking that they will adequately maintain and manage the crop (as a biomass crop grown for bioenergy) for a minimum of 7...

Written Answers — Harbour Services: Harbour Services (19 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: Charges for use of facilities and services at the six Fishery Harbour Centres are levied in accordance with the Fishery Harbour Centres (Rates & Charges) Order 2003 (S.I. No. 439 of 2003). Charge Number 7, Schedule 1 of the order details the charges to be imposed in respect of the use of a Fishery Harbour Centre by vessels not registered or not licensed. The vessel referred to by the Deputy...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2009 and full payment representing year 1 issued in respect of the first seven months. Full year payment in respect of year 2 totalling €8,181.80 issued in May 2011. I expect payments in respect of 2011 to commence later this year.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 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 — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: BIM is an independent statutory body and hence policy in relation to the operation and management of the Dingle Ice Plant is a matter for the Agency. I have, however, been advised by BIM that it intends to put the Dingle ice plant out to the public tender. Amid concerns expressed regarding possible disruption to the availability of this valuable resource I made representation to the BIM...