Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The Programme
for Government 2011 contains a commitment to amend and strengthen legislation on animal
cruelty and welfare. The main vehicle to fulfil this commitment will be the Animal Health and
Welfare Bill which I intend to publish as soon as possible, the exact timing will depend on the
legal text being finalised by the Attorney General’s Office and the Cabinet agreeing to publication.
The Bill is a wide-ranging piece of legislation providing a basis for regulating the related
areas of animal health and welfare with nearly seventy sections which requires careful consideration
and examination. I am hopeful however that matters will be progressed at an early date
on this matter.
Fishing Industry Development
560. D’fhiafraigh Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara an bhfuil sé i gceist
aige casadh le Comhar Caomháin, Inis Oírr leis an bhforbairt feilme éisc gar don oileán a phlé
agus, go mór mór, an bhfuil sé i gceist aige na riachtanais bunstruchtúir ar an oileán a phlé leo
le gur féidir leis an oileán an tairbhe is fearr is féidir a bhaint as an togra; agus an ndéanfaidh
sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [7603/12]
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): Tá a fhios agam
gur bhuail Bord Iascaigh Mhara le hionadaithe choiste forbartha Inis Oírr mar chuid de chlár
fairsing comhairliúcháin sular cuireadh tús leis an bpróiseas iarratais oifigiúil le haghaidh ceadúnais
maidir leis an tionscadal atá beartaithe.
Tuigim go ndearnadh raon leathan ceisteanna a phlé agus gur tugadh tacaíocht láidir an
phobail don tionscadal faoi deara.
Déanfaidh mo Roinn an t-iarratas ar cheadúnas dobharshaothraithe a mheas de réir an Achta
Iascaigh (Leasú), 1997. De réir mar a thuigim, ní mheasann BIM faoi láthair go mbeidh an
bonneagar ar Inis Oírr ina bhac ar dheiseanna fostaíochta don phobal maidir leis an tionscadal.
Grant Payments
561. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a
person (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive their 2011 REP scheme payment.
[7606/12]
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The person named
commenced REPS 4 in August 2008 and received payments for the first three years of their
contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and
is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications
to be completed before any payments can issue in respect of 2011. These checks have now
been completed and 75% of the year 4 payment issued to the person named on 2nd February
2012 for the amount of €6,112.79 and the remaining 25% balancing payment issued on 7th
February 2012 for the amount of €2,048.03.
562. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a
person (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive their 2011 REP scheme payment.
[7607/12]
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The person named
commenced REPS in July 2009 and received payments for the first two years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject
to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be com-
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