Results 201-220 of 4,291 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Contracts (11 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: I wish to inform the Deputy that the information requested is set out in the attached table. As regards the 13 State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days. Capital...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (11 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: The person named submitted an application under the ACRES Co-operation stream and was approved into Tranche 1 of the scheme, with a commencement date of 1st January 2023. While payments for 2023 have been made, to date this case has not passed all the required 2024 advance payment validations due to an issue relating to the commonage claim. The case is being worked on and I expect this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (11 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: The On Farm Market Valuation Scheme (OFMV) is the main element of the compensation regime for bovine livestock slaughtered as part of a national statutory disease eradication programme. Independent Valuers are appointed by me to undertake live valuations of bovine livestock under the OFMV for official disease control purposes. The current panel of Independent Valuers is due to expire on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (11 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: The person named submitted an application under the ACRES General stream and was approved into Tranche 1 of the scheme, with a commencement date of 1st January 2023. An ACRES interim payment issued to the herd owner in February 2024 in the sum of €4,000. To date this case has not passed the 2023 payment validations. Department officials are actively working to resolve the issues...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Inquiries (11 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: The person named submitted an application under the ACRES General stream and was approved into Tranche 1, with a commencement date of 1st January 2023. I have made further enquiries and it is my understanding that my Department has been in contact with the herdowner explaining the current position in relation to the processing of this transfer request. My Department acknowledges the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (11 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: I can advise the Deputy that my Department has engaged retired officials on 11 occasions on a consultancy basis in the past four years and to date in 2025. The reasons for engaging them and the cost incurred are included in the attached table. All Department staff provide annual Conflict of Interest declarations. It is not Department policy to apply this obligation on contractors. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Programmes (10 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: In preparation for the introduction of the new GAEC 2 standard - Protection of Peatlands and Wetlands, officials from my Department, in consultation with the European Commission selected a definition and a mapping source for peat soils. The definition of peat soils selected for GAEC 2 is: “A peat soil is defined as organic soil materials which have sedentarily accumulated and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Programmes (10 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres (FHCs), located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. My Department also has responsibility for North Harbour at Cape Clear Island, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland, in accordance...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (10 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: The grade of Agricultural Inspector is remunerated with a salary commencing at €75,736 and increasing to €106,005 on a PPC salary scale inclusive of long service incremental credit. The grade of Veterinary Inspector starts on a salary of €68,683 which increases to €118,165, again on a PPC salary scale inclusive of long service incremental credit. The full year...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Special Areas of Conservation (10 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department considers applications for aquaculture licences in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, the Foreshore Act 1933 (as amended) and applicable national and EU legislation. The licensing process involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisers as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation also provides for a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Inquiries (10 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: As part of the EU quality schemes, product names may be registered with a geographical indication if they have a specific link to the place where they are made. A Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) emphasises the relationship between the specific geographical region and the particular quality, reputation or other characteristic is essentially attributable to its geographical origin. PGI...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Surveys (10 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: The advice on fish stocks, including Pollack, published by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) forms the basis of the scientific advice used by the European Commission in proposing Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for the following year. The ICES advice for Pollack in ICES Areas 6-7 (the waters around Ireland) for 2024 and 2025 was for zero catch. Therefore, the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Inquiries (10 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: The person named submitted an application under the ACRES General stream and was approved into Tranche 1 of the scheme, with a commencement date of 1st January 2023. An ACRES inspection took place on the holding on 13 February 2025. A notification of the inspection findings issued to the person named by letter dated 13 May 2025. I can confirm that a request to review this decision was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Veterinary Services (10 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department is committed to ensuring that a highly skilled and motivated workforce is in place to meet business needs and uses workforce planning to identify and assess these needs for all locations. Recruitment is ongoing in the Department at present, and employment opportunities continue to be advertised either by the Public Jobs or by my Department's Human Resources Division. I am aware...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (10 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) 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. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. My Department does not provide any direct funding to the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Missions (10 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: The table below outlines details of the upcoming Trade Mission I will lead in June 2025. This Trade Missions will be undertaken in conjunction with Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and industry stakeholders. 2025 TRADE MISSION June Republic of Korea and Japan, including a visit to both the Seoul food event and the International EXPO in Osaka, Japan....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Industry (10 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: I am aware that there have been delays with the issuing of passports by Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) in 2024, following the introduction of an ‘E-Passporting System' which is called 'HorseSource’. Officials in my Department are in regular contact with HSI and my Department has been informed by HSI that they have introduced a number of measures to assist in reducing the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (10 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) receives funding as outlined below from my Department. HSI is contracted by my Department to deliver the national equine breeding programme. Under this contract, which was awarded following a competitive procurement process, HSI receives funding of €1,500,000 (ex VAT) annually to deliver the service. As a recognised studbook, HSI is also eligible to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Industry (10 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: Horse Sport Ireland have provided the following information on the number of passports issued and the number pending (as of 6 June 2025) for each of the last five years as follows: Application Year Completed Work in Progress (Pending)* 2021 10,343 0 2022 10,558 0 2023 9,119 3...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Industry (10 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: Horse Sport Ireland have informed me that there are a number of steps involved in issuing equine passports and that the current average time taken from receipt of an application to a passport issuing is 39 days.