Results 19,581-19,600 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Competition Law (21 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: There are currently 30 licensed beef export slaughter plants in the state operated by 16 companies. Many reports on the Irish beef industry over the years have referenced the necessity for the consideration of the issue of rationalisation within the industry. With regard to whether the matter referred to by the Deputy will further reduce competition in the beef sector; that ultimately will be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (21 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is strongly positioned as a competitive producer of dairy. It has enviable natural resources, adaptable and resilient producers, a strong international reputation, an effective dairy processing sector and a strong core of research infrastructure and expertise. A recent report from Bord Bia estimates that Irish dairy exports increased by 4% to €3.24Bn in 2015. Some 42% or...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (21 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The current 2014-2020 Forestry Programme is based on the following key needs: - Increase, on a permanent basis, Ireland's forest cover to capture carbon, produce wood and contribute towards climate change mitigation; - increase and sustain the production of forest-based biomass to meet renewable energy targets; - support forest holders to actively manage their plantations; and ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020 Strategy (21 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: Irish agricultural production is independently and internationally recognised by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, as one of the most climate and resource efficient systems in the world. The dairy production system has the joint lowest carbon footprint in the EU. Environmentally sustainable development of the agri-food sector remains a priority for my Department and an...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (21 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: Production decisions are made by producers, taking prevailing market conditions as well as their efficiency of production and price of inputs into account. The abolition of dairy quotas in April 2015 allows farmers the freedom to make these production decisions on a commercial basis. The price of milk and dairy commodities is determined by a range of factors, including supply and demand...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (21 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The State, through the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, has an existing and well established infrastructure for oversight of competition matters and for dealing with allegations of anti-competitive practices or abuse of a dominant position. While the deputy has not referred to any particular case, I am aware of recent proposed developments involving two meat processors. I...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers (21 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, owns and directly manages six Fishery Harbour Centres located at Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, Ros an Mhíl, Killybegs and An Daingean. Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is a working fishery harbour, however it is also a very important tourist and leisure destination with many restaurants and businesses operating on the Harbour. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers (21 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute. While first and foremost a working fishery harbour, Howth similar to the other five Fishery Harbour Centres, has its own unique features which is home to a broad range of diverse economic and social activities. My Department is conscious of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Payments (21 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Schemes was received from the person named on 28 May 2015. Processing of the Areas of Natural Constraint application has recently been finalised and payment will issue to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly. My Department received applications under the ‘young farmer’ category of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Payments (21 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The person named has been approved under Tranche 1 of GLAS with a contract start date of 1 October 2015. GLAS applicants with a start date of 1 October 2015 are entitled to a 2015 part-year payment in respect of certain actions, and covering the three month period 1 October 2015-31 December 2015.  During the prepayment validation checks on the application of the person named two queries...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Reports (21 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 to 74, inclusive, together. My Department’s examination of the damage to structures at the aquaculture site in Bantry Bay referred to by the Deputy is ongoing. This examination is detailed and involves all engineering, scientific, environmental and technical matters associated with the incident. An initial draft of the report is nearing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Issues (21 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: Increasing the mobility and the productive use of land was identified as a key policy objective in the Agri-Taxation Review, which was published as part of Budget 2015. While there is an active land rental market, the majority of these cases are for short-term ‘conacre’ lettings. Long-term leasing has a number of advantages over the conacre system and the Finance Act 2014...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Transfers (21 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The first person named submitted a 2015 Transfer of Entitlements Allocation Right and Reference Value application to my Department seeking the transfer of allocation rights and values by inheritance. My Department has written to the personal legal representatives of the second person named, the deceased transferor in this case, regarding documents required to further process the application....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (21 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Schemes was received from the person named on 14 April 2015. Processing of the application under both schemes is complete and payments have issued to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (21 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The CSO’s recently published Quarterly National Household Survey (Quarter 3 2015) showed that employment in the agri-food sector overall, and in its component parts, has reached 169,000. Based on this data, this sector represents circa 8.5% of national employment. The CSO figures are based on sample surveys. Food Wise 2025, the new ten year strategy for the agri-food sector...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Landings (21 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 81 together. In accordance with the Control Regulation EU 1224/2009, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is the competent authority for the compilation of landing data by Irish vessels. I have passed the request to the SFPA who will respond directly to the Deputy. The Irish authorities are not responsible for compiling data on landings or the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (21 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The seafood sector continues to be a high-growth area of the economy and indeed of our food industry. Last week Bord Bia announced that sales in the seafood sector for 2015 soared to €890m and exports had increased by 4% to €560m, a 77% rise since 2009. Bord Iascaigh Mhara and Bord Bia are working with seafood companies around our coast to grow the sector to €1 billion...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (21 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The EU Council Conclusions of October 2014 agreed on an overall 40% reduction in greenhouse gases (GHG) for the EU by 2030 compared with 1990. Ireland, like all other Member States, will be required to undertake its share of this overall -40% target. At National level we have been engaged in intensive discussions, in a whole of Government approach, with the European Commission to highlight...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Labelling (21 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: My colleague the Minister for Health has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation and new EU food information regulations which were adopted by the Council of Health Ministers in December 2011. However, my Department plays an important role in the enforcement of this legislation under service contract to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. Primary responsibility...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Exports (21 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: My role as Minister, in relation to the beef sector, is to create a policy and support environment that allows it to flourish in line with standard market principles. I am guided in this context by the long-term sectoral development strategies as set out in Food Wise 2025 and I am confident that these initiatives, in conjunction with the Rural Development Programme, will lead to continued...