Results 1,121-1,140 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Felling Licences (14 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: The felling licence application for the person named is within the Maumturk Mountains SAC (code 002008) and upstream from Lough Corrib SAC (000297). Potential adverse impacts of the proposed clear fell operations on the Qualifying Interests of the SACs could not be ruled out and, therefore, it was determined that a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) was required. A letter requesting the NIS and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Inquiries (14 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are currently no tribunals, public investigations or commissions of investigations in process in my Department.

Personal Explanation by Minister (7 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to make a personal statement to the House and to officially put on the record the facts relating to an incident that took place four years ago, in September 2016, and which has been the subject of media controversy over recent days. While I have co-operated with print and broadcast media inquiries since the issue emerged last Friday,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (7 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: Officials from my Department have been in direct contact with the person named, and have advised him of the required information he must now submit in order to progress this matter. Once the required information has been received, it will be examined accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Sales (7 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: I acknowledge receipt of correspondence of 25 June, of which the Deputy is a signatory, on the Animal Health and Welfare (Sale or Supply of Pet Animals) Regulations (SI 681 of 2019). You will recall that in 2018 my Department launched a public consultation on matters relating to the sale and advertisement of pet animals. The consultation asked specifically for the public’s views...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Environmental Efficiency Scheme (7 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: The closing date for receipt of applications Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme - Sucklers was 15th May 2020. No application was received from the person named. A letter from the person named requesting a review of their participation in the scheme was received on 24th June 2020. A review was carried out and a letter detailing the outcome of that review issued to the person named on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon (7 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: Bord na gCon is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Bord na gCon and therefore the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (7 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: Bord na gCon is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Bord na gCon and therefore the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (7 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: The following table shows the numbers of cattle (including both calves and adult cattle) exported to Northern Ireland from week 13 (w/c 30/03/20) to week 25 (w/c 22/06/20), with comparative data for previous years. My Department does not have data on the number of these animals slaughtered in Northern Ireland. Exports to Northern Ireland of 14,321 live cattle between weeks 13 and 25 can be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (7 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: Data on cattle movements to Northern Ireland in the Covid19 period to date has been already been supplied to the Deputy. My Department does not have data on cattle movements within Northern Ireland. Queries related to the movement of cattle within another jurisdiction should be addressed to the relevant competent authority which, in the case of Northern Ireland, is the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (7 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: The €50 million Beef Exceptional Aid package is targeted towards beef finishers in recognition of the fact that they have borne the most immediate and severe economic impact arising from the market disturbance arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme is being designed to be as farmer friendly as possible to ensure that the support can be most effectively targeted where it is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Programme for Government (7 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: The Agriculture and Food chapter of the Programme for Government commits to supporting farmers and food businesses, which underpin the vitality of rural villages and towns across the country. It acknowledges that the sector has come through a difficult number of years, dealing with many challenges such as Brexit, COVID-19, significant market disruption in the beef sector and extreme weather...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Consultancy Contracts (7 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: My Department is committed to promoting and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace for all and has a Diversity, Equality and Inclusion policy in place. This policy, which was launched in 2018, embraces, promotes and builds on my Department's core values in the areas of diversity, equality and inclusion for all employees. In October 2019, following public procurement...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Legal Costs (7 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department generally avails of the legal services of the Chief State Solicitor's Office and its own Legal Services Division. However, occasionally it engages private Solicitor firms and Junior and Senior Counsel for external legal advice. The amount spent by my Department on external legal fees for the specified years is set out in the following table. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon (7 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: Bord na gCon (BnG) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. BnG is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. All Exchequer funding for BnG for the years 2019 and 2020 was provided under the Horse and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Correspondence (7 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: Investigations and prosecutions are carried out by many Line Divisions in the Department but Investigations Division is the Specialist Division taking the more complex and serious cases through the courts. The Division is a key element of the Department’s enforcement capability, underpinning the quality and traceability standards which facilitate trade and provide reassurance to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme (7 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: The above named is the transferee on five separate Transfer of Entitlements applications for 2020. Four of the transfer of entitlement applications have been completed. Further information is required in relation to the fifth transfer application and officials in my Department have contacted the party concerned. Once the required information is received, the final transfer of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (7 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to the establishment of a new authority to be called the National Food Ombudsman to enforce Directive (EU) No. 2019/633 on Unfair Trading Practices. My Department has been preparing for the transposition of the Unfair Trading Practices Directive into national legislation before the 1 May 2021 deadline. The preparations included the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (7 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: The sheep sector is an important element of the Irish economy and I am conscious of the importance that this sector plays in rural Ireland, especially during this difficult period. My officials and I have ongoing contact with all the key stakeholders across the agrifood sector since the start of the pandemic. My Department and I are working to ensure that business and services to farmers...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data and Genomics Programme (7 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) provides for six years of payments to participating farmers for completion of actions which deliver accelerated genetic improvement in the Irish national herd and improvement of its environmental sustainability. The application under the 2019 programme year for the person named has recently been finalised and payment will issue shortly.