Results 1-20 of 4,825 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Tillage Sector: Statements (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to address the House today on the significant challenges facing our tillage sector. Before I outline the Government's response, I will begin by acknowledging the strain that many farming families in the sector face. Coming on the back of two horrendously difficult years weatherwise, thankfully conditions for...

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: There you are again.

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: Who is mentioning the election?

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: Yes, in response. Blatant.

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: You have all made it pretty clear, Deputy. Let us be honest.

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: There you are. You admit it now. That is why you are here today.

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: They are blowing your cover, Peadar.

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: Are you saying you did not?

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: I rise today to make three quick points in the short time I have available. First, it is the Government's commitment and determination to make progress in spinal services for children. The focus of our current and previous Ministers for Health has been on delivering considerable resources and addressing structural impediments to the delivery of improved spinal services. I want to say to...

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Opposition tries to suggest there is no alternative-----

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: -----motivation behind that. I was not going to make that point today because I thought the public could come to that conclusion itself.

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: I listened to one of the worst speeches I have heard in this Dáil during my 14 years as a Member of this House from Deputy Mary Lou McDonald.

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: She framed her address in the grief, distress and pain of families of young children. She made a statement that the Tánaiste was "the only person responsible". I think she said it twice, actually. It was an incredibly personalised direct attack. We have become used to this from the Opposition but it will never be acceptable in discourse. Deputy McDonald proceeded to blatantly make...

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: -----I stand here to affirm my confidence in the Tánaiste, Simon Harris, for all he has achieved for this country.

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: You are the ones not in the election.

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: Wow. You want to accuse us of politicising this issue.

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: Wow. You have the neck to accuse us of politicising this issue. Wow. Incredible. Shame on you.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Trade Agreements (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: I will not waste lots of time talking about it. A number of EU countries, such as Spain and others, and their ministers for agriculture speak glowingly of Mercosur. That is a fact. Those meetings are public and open for people to see. I do not need list the countries in question. We are in the minority at that Council in terms of continually raising concerns around this space. However,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Animal Welfare (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department is committed to reviewing all legislation relating to dogs, and in this regard it will be guided by the recommendations of the dog control stakeholder group. I expect the group to revert to me with recommendations on the matter in due course. In the meantime, I am fully committed to progressing the work in this area. My Department is also aware of the campaign the Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Animal Welfare (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: We are reviewing the legislation. This is a responsibility that has come into my domain in recent months. As a Deputy who was part of the negotiating team for the programme for Government, and having been a Minister of State in the Department of agriculture, I was really keen for this to come under the remit of agriculture. I thought it was the right fit and that it is the right place for...