Results 38,141-38,160 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

International Agreements (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33, 35 and 45 together. These questions relate to the EU's negotiations with the Mercosur countries on a new bilateral trade deal. In case the House is not aware, this represents an extraordinary threat to the Irish beef industry because in essence what may happen is that the European beef sector would be sacrificed to allow European financial services and...

International Agreements (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: It is important to state our position should not be against any world trade deal as Ireland has many industries. Most of the growth in our economy comes from the export sector at present, and many of those exports are to world markets outside the European Union. We must be careful, therefore, in what we say about world trade. At the same time, we cannot allow an agreement to be reached...

International Agreements (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: It is an "any other business" item tomorrow. That is the only way to get a specific issue such as this on the agenda. My understanding is that the Presidency establishes the agenda for Council of Ministers meetings. If one wishes to include something extra on the agenda, on which Ireland has insisted on this occasion, the way to do so is to have it considered as an "any other business"...

Agri-Environment Options Scheme (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Question Nos. 23 and 24 together. I congratulate Deputy Moynihan, Deputy Colreavy and Deputy Pringle on being made spokespersons on agriculture and fisheries for their parties or groups in the House. I look forward to a constructive relationship with them. We have many challenges in the next two years in respect of budgetary constraints, but agriculture and fisheries can...

Agri-Environment Options Scheme (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: I am glad this issue was raised by a member of the party Deputy Moynihan represents. The announcement of an AEOS scheme for this year was made by the previous Minister, but there was no provision in the budget for that. The Department of Finance had no provision for it. My Department had no provision for it. There are expenditure ceilings, to which the previous Government signed up, to...

Agri-Environment Options Scheme (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: I have been there and know it well.

Agri-Environment Options Scheme (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: I am very conscious that many farm families are and have been reliant for practically all of their farm profits on schemes such as REPS and the current AEOS. While we allow the more fertile land to be farmed in a more intensive manner to produce more food and meet the targets set under Food Harvest 2020, in addition to all of the other exciting events that will happen in the agriculture...

Harbours and Piers (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre is Ireland's premier fishing port. To date, in excess of €50 million has been invested in the development of the harbour by my Department. This investment has brought the harbour infrastructure and facilities up to a class leading standard. My Department is conscious of the valuable and necessary contribution the harbour plays in the support and...

Harbours and Piers (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: I have been to Killybegs a number of times, most recently for the by-election in which the Deputy participated, and I am very aware of the potential for development. The marine resource is underestimated by most. Killybegs Harbour can and will be at the heart of developing a more ambitious fisheries sector, with a particular focus on fish processing. We can do much there to process more...

Milk Quota (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: I will leave aside my notes to answer this question because otherwise I will have to stop half way through and the Deputy will not receive a full response. There is much concern in the dairy industry about a soft landing for the sector as we approach the end of milk quotas in 2015. There was much concern until a few days ago that there would be a super levy applied to Ireland for...

Written Answers — State Property: State Property (12 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: As advised to the Deputy in my reply on 31March 2011, in relation to the immature forests sold to forestry investment funds to date, the sale agreements confer rights on the purchaser to harvest timber at maturity while Coillte retains ownership of the land. In order to preserve the forest estate, apart from exceptional circumstances, my Department's policy is that replanting should take...

Written Answers — Coastal Protection: Coastal Protection (12 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Coastal Protection & Management functions previously held by my Department were transferred to the Office of Public Works with effect from January 2009 and any inquiries in relation to monies owed to Kerry County Council in respect of Coastal Protection works should be directed to that office. Knightstown Pier is owned by Kerry County Council and responsibility for the maintenance and...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (12 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: My Department employed 12 retired public servants on short-term contracts during 2010, with the total cost amounting to €177,700.16. The number and costs involved of retired public servants employed in the bodies under my Department's aegis are listed in the following table: State Body Reply Non-Commercial Bodies Aqua licensing Appeals Board None for the period in question Bord Bia 1...

Written Answers — Official Languages Act: Official Languages Act (12 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: All signs put in place by my Department through the years have all been compliant with the requirements under the existing legislation and no additional cost to replace inaccurate signs was incurred during this period. As to the agencies and bodies that fall under my Department's remit, this is an operational matter for the agencies/bodies themselves but they are required to be compliance...

Written Answers — Official Languages Act: Official Languages Act (12 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: If there are any English-only signs remaining, my Department will tender for the replacement of these signs prior to March 2013 as necessary. As to the agencies and bodies that fall under my Department's remit, this is an operational matter for the agencies/bodies themselves but they are required to be compliant with the Official Languages Act.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named was an applicant under the Farm Improvement Scheme. Applications under this Scheme have been processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016. As the funding made available for the Scheme has been exhausted, I have no plans to commence processing further applications. An application under the 2010...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: An application was received on 22 April 2010 requesting the transfer of 9.82 Single Payment entitlements to the person named from his late father. As the person named did not hold a herd-number, he was directed to the District Veterinary Office to arrange for the transfer of the herd-number from his late father. Correspondence has also issued from the Transfer of Entitlements section of my...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced participation in REPS on 1 December 2006. He has received payments for the first four years of his plan. The application of the person named was selected for inspection and, following that, a penalty was imposed. On 2February 2011 my officials issued a letter notifying the person named of the penalty. As no appeal has been received to date, the processing of the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person on 13 May 2010. The application was fully processed and payments under the Single Payment Scheme were issued to the applicant on 18 October 2010, 1 December 2010 and 25 February 2011.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 13 April 2010 declaring 7.92 hectares of eligible land. Payments on clear parcels were made to the person named on 18 October and 1 December 2010 respectively. There were a number of parcels whose eligibility required verification with regard to forestry. This process has now been completed and the...