Results 37,801-37,820 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (31 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I have listed the details of the special advisers appointed in my Department since the 9th March, 2011 in the table. Name Role Salary Fergal Leamy Special Adviser with particular responsibility for advising on matters relating to Food Harvest 2020 and General Strategy, Expenditure Reviews and McCarthy Report, Food and Food Safety, Planning and Functional areas, Veterinary and Inspection....

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: My Department has no record of receiving an application under the consolidation measure of the 2010 or 2011 Single Payment Scheme from the person named. The closing date for receipt of applications under this measure of the 2010 Single Payment Scheme was the 17th May 2010 and the closing date under the 2011 Scheme was 16th May 2011.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named has been approved into the AEOS scheme with a start date of 1 September 2010. 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...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named has been approved into the AEOS scheme with a start date of the 1st November 2010. 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...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (31 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Milk Rights Group was set up to lobby on behalf of its members for parity of treatment with plaintiffs whose cases were considered by the Supreme Court in 1997, and who were successful in their actions in relation to the method of quota allocation on the introduction of the milk quota/super levy regime in 1984. My Department does not accept that it has any liability other than in cases...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (31 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority is an independent statutory body. The 2011 Authority total staff is 97. The internal staffing arrangements are a matter for the Authority. The Department has forwarded the request to the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority for its consideration and for a direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (26 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The 2011 Scheme for the Allocation of Milk Quota to New Entrants was announced on 31 January 2011, with a closing date of 8 April 2011. The Scheme provides for three New Entrant categories, namely: Category A - Brand New Entrant to Dairying; Category B - Purchaser of Quota as a New Entrant through the Milk Quota Trading Scheme; Category C - Purchaser of Quota as a Successor through the Milk...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (26 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I assume the Deputy is referring to recent correspondence from the Cork South West Lobster Fishermans Co-Operative in relation to funding for the cooperative. This Cooperative wrote to me in April seeking funding of €50,000 over 5 years for the cooperative, to enable it to continue to fund its contribution towards payments to lobster fishermen who are members of the Coop and who engage in...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (26 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together. In June 2010 UCD launched a report entitled 'Challenges and Solutions to Support Good Equine Welfare Practice in Ireland'. The report highlighted a number of factors including the increasing numbers of horses at risk of being abandoned and the necessity for a comprehensive system of equine identification. The response from the Equine...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (26 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the issues raised by the person to whom the Deputy refers. There has been extensive contact between the individual concerned and officials from my Department. It is my understanding that the complaints made by this individual to the relevant regulatory bodies have been investigated and the outcome of those investigations have been made known to the complainant. My Department's...

Written Answers — Croke Park Agreement: Croke Park Agreement (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: There was no delay in submitting my Department's progress report under the Public Service (Croke Park) Agreement. It was forwarded to the Department of Finance on the 4th of May. The report outlines the significant progress made by my Department, which has been engaged in a fundamental process of re-organisation, major reductions in staffing levels and improvement of its business processes,...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I am of course concerned that Ireland could be over quota in the 2011/2012 milk quota year. Favourable market and weather conditions during the 2010/2011 milk quota year contributed to a dramatic increase in milk production, which resulted in a remarkable turnaround from a position where the country was 10 per cent under quota at the end of the 2009/2010 milk quota year. Increased heifer...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 54 together. To coincide with the next EU multiannual financial framework, discussions are underway on the policy direction for the CAP after 2013. Ireland has taken an active part in the discussions to date in the Council and in bilateral meetings with the Commission, European Parliament, other Member States and groups of Member States. The size of...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: Agriculture and the agri-food processing sector is Ireland's most important indigenous industry. It has a key role to play in terms of direct economic activity and is one of the growth sectors designated to advance our national export led economic recovery. In my view, this sector provides a strong base for national economic development. Currently, the overall industry has an annual output...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The total level of current investment in agri-food research is significant and comprises a number of sources. My Department operates 2 competitive funding programmes for agri-food research, namely the Food Institutional Research Measure (FIRM) and the Stimulus Research Programme under the National Development Plan 2007-2013. Awards under the 2 Programmes since 2005 amount to €131m while...

Written Answers — Beef Sector: Beef Sector (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: As I have stated previously, I am very concerned about the EU/MERCOSUR negotiations. I raised this issue at both the March and April meetings of the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers and expressed my reservations about these negotiations, particularly regarding the impact a deal with MERCOSUR might have on the Irish and EU beef sector. I also conveyed my concerns directly to Commissioner...

Written Answers — Fish Quotas: Fish Quotas (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 55 together. I am very concerned about the unacceptable practice of discarding fish at sea and I am fully committed to working both nationally and internationally to bring about an end to this practice. Commissioner Damanaki has placed discarding of fish high on her agenda for the Common Fisheries Policy reform and at my meeting with her on the 14th of...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The current Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) between the European Community and Morocco came into force in February 2007. A Fisheries Protocol, setting out the detailed operating rules for the FPA, was also established at that time. The FPA, which includes the waters off Western Sahara, renews automatically every four years. The Protocol, however, expired on 27 February 2011. The...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 71 together. As the Deputies will be aware the pigmeat sector has been experiencing a severe reduction in its margins brought about by the large increase in feed prices since the middle of 2010. Feed makes up some 70% of the cost of rearing a pig. Since the middle of 2010 my Department has been urging the European Commission to take action in order to...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: As Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, I have no function with regard to the National Assets Management Agency (NAMA) or the usage of its assets. These come under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Finance. The Acquisition of Land(Allotments) Act 1926, which is under the remit of the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, enables local authorities to let...