Results 37,981-38,000 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (10 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: There have not been any exports of greyhounds from Ireland to China in recent years. Any proposal to export greyhounds from Ireland to China would require the establishment and agreement of export health certification protocols in advance with the Chinese authorities, and appropriate transport arrangements would have to be put in place to ensure the welfare of the animals in transit. The...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (10 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: My colleague Minister of State Shane McEntee, TD, met with the Chairman and Chief Executive of Bord na gCon on 3rd May 2011 to discuss the Board's proposal to explore business opportunities in China. It was agreed at this meeting that Bord na gCon would modify its proposal to exclude the export of greyhounds from Ireland but would continue to explore possibilities of developing the proposal...

Written Answers — Fishing Vessel Licences: Fishing Vessel Licences (10 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Fisheries (Amendment) Act of 2003 transferred the functions of sea fishing-boat licensing from the Minister to the Licensing Authority for Sea-Fishing Boats, which operates on an independent basis subject to criteria set out in that Act and Ministerial Policy Directives. All applications for sea-fishing boat licenses are considered by the Licensing Authority. Under the legislation, the...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (10 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The total budget allocation for the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for 2011 is €10.177 million. This Programme is currently under consideration by my Department and is expected to be finalised in the near future. Greencastle harbour is owned by Donegal County Council and responsibility for the maintenance and development of the harbour rests with that local...

Written Answers — National Reserve Applications: National Reserve Applications (10 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: There is no record in my Department of a National Reserve application having been received from the person named. Representations were made on behalf of the person named in July 2010 alleging that an application under the 2008 National Reserve had been submitted. The closing date for receipt of applications under the 2008 National Reserve was 15 May 2008 – over two years earlier....

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (10 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The number of spot checks carried out on authorised dog transporters was 88 in 2007, 79 in 2008, 27 in 2009 and 36 in 2010. The information on the estimated annual cost of inspecting dog transporters is not readily available and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named registered 43 beef breed calves under the 2010 Suckler Welfare Scheme. To date, payment has issued in respect of 19 registered animals. My Department established that 4 animals were sold with no Scheme event dates having been received and a letter issued on 23 December 2010 advising the person named of the situation in respect of these animals. Dates were provided for a...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: Responsibility for the Coastal Protection Programme transferred to the Office of Public Works (OPW) on 1st January 2009 and, as such, queries in relation to the Programme from that date onwards should be directed to the OPW. The budget allocation for the Coastal Protection Programme for 2008 was €3.037 million. The budget allocations for Foreshore Development for 2008, 2009 and 2010 were...

Written Answers — Allowance Payments: Allowance Payments (10 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I understand the claim for payment of allowances is currently being reviewed and a decision will issue shortly. The person concerned will be informed by his employer, Teagasc, when a decision has been made.

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme Applications: Single Payment Scheme Applications (10 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The submission of annual Single Payment applications, amendments forms and applications relating to the transfer of entitlements or the National Reserve are subject to strict closing dates set down in EU Regulations. The submission by 16 May 2011 of the Single Payment Scheme application form and associated documentation is an essential requirement for all farmers in order to benefit from...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (10 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: My Department has contributed to the EU Commission consultations on land use, land use change and forestry in the context of the EU greenhouse gas emissions debate through the submission in December 2010 of Ireland's response to the EU Commission's public consultation on the role of EU agriculture and forestry in achieving the EU's climate change commitments. At Ireland's request, a...

Written Answers — Expenditure Reviews: Expenditure Reviews (10 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: There are no specific assessments, reviews or reports being carried out by my Department under the terms of the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support. My Department, in common with all other Government Departments, is required to make periodic financial and staff returns to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform as part of the on-going monitoring and management of public expenditure...

Written Answers — Headage Payments: Headage Payments (10 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: Due to the inordinately long time-lapse involved it is not possible, in the time available, to provide a comprehensive reply to the Deputy. Enquiries are being made in the matter and my Department will be in further direct contact with the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (5 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: Under EU Regulations, amounts arising from reductions and exclusions from payment as a result of non-compliance with the cross-compliance regime shall be credited to the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and Member States may retain 25% of those amounts. The amounts retained are accounted for in the annual EU clearance of accounts decision and are shown as Appropriations in Aid in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 May 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. Payment will issue to the person named at the earliest possible date once these checks have been completed.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: A total of 26,664 farmers have received their REPS 4 payment to date. The majority of outstanding payments have issues which need to be examined or resolved and these are being dealt with on an ongoing basis by my officials. A small number of farmers are awaiting their balancing payment of 25%, having already received 75%, because they have incurred breaches of the Scheme. The balancing...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2009 and received the year 1 payments in December 2009. The first instalment of 75% of the year 2 payment was made on the 14th April 2011. The balancing payment of 25% was made on 18th April 2011. Under the EU Regulations governing REPS, payments for the current year i.e. 2011 cannot issue until comprehensive administrative checks, including...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (5 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: Quota does not apply under the current suckler welfare scheme. This is a five-year scheme, fully funded by the Exchequer, which commenced in 2008, and it was open to all suckler farmers to apply to participate in the scheme at that time. If the person concerned has been an active suckler farmer before 2011, he or she cannot apply to join the scheme now.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: An application under the single payment scheme/grassland sheep scheme was received from the person named on the 14 May 2010. This application was fully processed and payment under the grassland sheep scheme issued on 1 February 2011, based, in accordance with the provisions of the scheme, on the original sheep census return received by my Department on 11 January 2010, which indicated that...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: All of the documentation required to complete the change of the ownership of the herd number as it applies to this scheme has not been received. The outstanding documentation has been requested again, and on receipt, and when all of the terms and conditions of the scheme have been found to have been complied with, payment can be processed.