Results 37,561-37,580 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (5 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: Section 104 of the Finance Act 2007 amended the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999 to grant stamp duty relief where a farmer sells qualifying land and purchases qualifying land in order to consolidate his or her holding. To be eligible to claim the stamp duty relief, the sale and purchase of qualifying land(s) must occur within 18 months of each other and before 30 June 2011. Land sold and...

Written Answers — Ministerial Meetings: Ministerial Meetings (5 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Ministerial Management Advisory Committee provides me and Minister of State, Deputy Shane McEntee the opportunity to discuss with senior management the broad strategic and cross-cutting matters that affect my Department and the sectors for which we have responsibility. It is additional to the normal day to day direct contact with the Secretary General, senior management and other...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (5 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: A number of the Agencies listed by the Deputy do not fall under my Department's remit. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland, Food Safety Promotion Board and the Food Safety Consultative Council all fall under the remit of the Department of Health, while the Marine Casualty Investigation Board is the responsibility of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. As to the rest, the Animal...

Leaders' Questions (5 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy did not.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (30 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: I have been advised by Coillte that no-one in the company has received a bonus or performance-related payment in respect of 2010.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: An official of my Department has been in direct contact with the person named and has confirmed that an outstanding Single Payment is due to issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The persons named commenced REPS 4 in March 2008 and received full payment in respect of year 1 and 2. The payment in respect of year 3 was approved by my officials on 28th June 2011 and will issue within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (30 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: In relation to the funding of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, in common with all areas of Government spending, a comprehensive review is currently being undertaken, with a view to achieving the best balance between the recognised benefits of the Scheme, while working within the unprecedented financial constraints in which the country currently find itself. With regard to the EU-wide Review,...

Written Answers — Farm Consolidation: Farm Consolidation (30 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: Section 104 of the Finance Act 2007 amended the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999 to grant stamp duty relief where a farmer sells qualifying land and purchases qualifying land in order to consolidate his or her holding. To be eligible to claim the stamp duty relief, the sale and purchase of qualifying land(s) must occur within 18 months of each other and before 30 June 2011. Land sold and...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 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, must be completed before any payment can issue. I expect that the checking process...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (30 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The individual to whom the Deputy refers competed in an internal promotion competition in 2006. Initially an error was made by the interview board when listing the successful candidates. This error was subsequently corrected and the individual in question was placed on the panel of successful candidates in advance of any post being offered to the panel.

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (30 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Coillte Annual Report 2010 states the value of the forests and lands element of the Coillte group's tangible assets to be €1,367 million. I understand that, under Irish generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), there is no value included in the group accounts for the other assets to which the Deputy refers. In relation to the query about contact with any potential international...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2010 single payment scheme was received from the person named on 9 February 2011. The closing date for receipt of applications under this scheme was 17 May 2010. Having now received a copy of the proof of postage showing that the application was posted prior to the closing date, it has been decided by my Department to waive the penalty for late submission of this...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The information required is set out on the following table. YEAR APPEALS REC'D OVERTURNED DECISIONS CHANGED LATER 2006 427 154 3 2007 394 150 3 2008 481 164 5 2009 692 400 2 2010 832 392 6 to date

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Disadvantaged Areas Scheme involves the processing of over 100,000 applications from farmers annually and under the Scheme in excess of €220 million is paid. The Scheme is part funded by the EU and forms one of the measures included in Ireland's Rural Development Programme (2007 to 2103). I can confirm that the necessary progress in processing applications is being made which will...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government 2011 includes a commitment to amend and strengthen legislation on animal cruelty and animal welfare. In this regard I am proposing to publish an Animal Health and Welfare Bill later this year to give effect to this commitment and to build on ongoing legislative drafting in this area which includes the consolidation of a wide range of existing animal health and...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: It is my intention to publish an Animal Health & Welfare Bill this year. However, as the Deputy will be aware the Bill is a complex one and will require extensive work in conjunction with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to complete the required legal drafting. Once a complete draft is available I intend to publish the Bill. The issue of fur farming is being examined in the context...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The live export trade complements the processing trade by providing alternative market outlets for cattle producers. There are 2 main components to the live export trade; calf shipments to the Continent and the movement of forward stores and finished cattle to the UK. Data for the period from January to 11 June 2011 shows that overall live exports are 40% below the levels achieved during...

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: I am very pleased to see that there is renewed confidence in the sheep sector. Last year saw a welcome increase in the average factory price for heavy lambs, with prices approximately 17% ahead of the 2009 levels. Prices this year, irrespective of the current seasonal drop, are still above those for the same time last year. Another very encouraging sign is the fact that for the first time...

Written Answers — Horticulture Sector: Horticulture Sector (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The recent E. coli outbreak resulted in significant loses for horticultural producers and traders across the EU. Thankfully Ireland was not affected to the same extent as the main exporting countries such as Spain and the Netherlands. The sharp fall in consumer demand in light of the crisis resulted in a significant surplus of produce on the EU market. I attended a specially convened...