Results 19,661-19,680 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The markets currently open to live cattle from Ireland are Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Russia  and Tunisia, in addition to the other twenty-seven Member states of the EU. Responsibility for exploiting market outlets following market access is a commercial matter for the live export sector. Accessing new markets to add to this list is, and has been, a key priority of mine as I am always...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheepmeat Sector (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: There are currently 10 sheepmeat plants approved by my Department and these are owned by 9 different groups and in various locations throughout the country. The 5 biggest plants accounted for 86% of the overall throughput of the DAFM-approved plants in 2015. The average factory price increased by 1.5% in 2015 which would indicate that there is sufficient competition, as there was no...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: My role as Minister is to create a policy and support environment that allows the beef sector 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 growth in terms of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (20 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. I understand that acquisitions or mergers of organisations with turnover exceeding certain statutory thresholds are required to be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Applications (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department received applications under the ‘young farmer’ category of the 2015 National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme from the person named. These applications are currently being processed, which involves administrative checks and verification of land details submitted under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme application. These checks are required under the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas’ of Natural Constraint scheme application on 30 April 2015. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The application of the person named was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: Following a LPIS review of the application of the person named an overdeclaration was discovered. This matter has now been resolved. In 2015 the person named made applications under the Basic Payments Scheme, Areas of Natural Constraint and the Beef Data Scheme. Full payments have issued in respect of these schemes. An official from my Department has made direct contact with the person...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced their AEOS 1 contract on 1stNovember 2010 and has been paid for the 2010-2014 scheme years. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System must take place. As it is their final scheme year, re-checks on payments made for all...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Appeals (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The person named was the subject to a 2013 LPIS review. This review identified over claims on two land parcels. The person named was notified of these over claims on 17 October 2013 and 12 June 2014 . The person named appealed this decision and following a field visit on 3 July 2014 the original decision was upheld. The person named also appealed his case to the Appeals Committee and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Young Farmers Scheme (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted applications under the ‘young farmer’ category of the 2015 National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme to my Department. Eligible applicants to the National Reserve qualify for either an allocation of new entitlements on land for which they hold no entitlements, so called 'naked land', or where an applicant already holds existing entitlements which...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licence Applications (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I was delighted to publish in December Ireland's National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development. That Plan proposes 24 actions to drive the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector and grow production in the sector by 45,000 tonnes by 2023. This output increase will be derived from a combination of increased and or restored productivity from the existing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licence Applications (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: Expenditure by Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the Marine Institute in connection with BIM’s aquaculture licence application is an operational matter for the agencies concerned. I have forwarded the Deputy's Question to the agencies and asked them to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Development (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I was delighted to publish in December Ireland’s National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development. That Plan proposes 24 actions to drive the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector and grow production in the sector by 45,000 tonnes by 2023. This output increase will be derived from a combination of increased and or restored productivity from the existing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department is currently examining possible overstocking in respect of certain aquaculture sites operated by Marine Harvest Ireland and pending completion of this examination it would not be appropriate to comment further.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licences (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I was delighted to publish in December Ireland’s National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development. That Plan proposes 24 actions to drive the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector and grow production in the sector by 45,000 tonnes. One of the actions of that Plan commits my Department to a review and revision of the aquaculture licence process, including the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Properties (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department, in conjunction with the Office of Public Works (OPW), has engaged in a review of the Department’s accommodation needs in Portlaoise with a view to consolidating our accommodation footprint in the town.  A space audit was carried out by the OPW in Government Offices, Abbeyleix Road and in the Eircom Building in Portlaoise and my Department officials are now...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Payments (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas’ of Natural Constraint scheme application on 7 May 2015. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The application of the person named was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Genomics Scheme (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) 2015 -2020 application form to my Department on the 20thMay 2015. Payments under the Beef Data and Genomics Programme amounting to €30m issued to almost 16,000 participants in December 2015. Payments are resuming now and will continue on an ongoing basis as herds become eligible. Subject to verification of compliance...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme was received from the person named on 31 March 2015. Processing of the ANC application has recently been finalised and payment will issue to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly. The person named also submitted a 2015 Basic Payment Scheme application but, as he has no entitlements established , no...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Administration (19 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: My Department has placed great importance on the online application system since its introduction in 2007. This included the introduction of an electronic mapping facility in 2012 which allowed for more accurate updating of land parcels, fewer penalties for farmers and faster processing of applications. The introduction of the new Basic Payment Scheme in 2015 necessitated a new online...