Results 221-240 of 3,701 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Dairy Sector (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: That is why new markets and continuing to grow our market share in existing markets is so important. Our job in the Department of agriculture is to meet all of the regulatory requirements of other countries so that we can can gain market access and trade there. It is then up to the Irish food processors and food companies to see that the price they are getting for Irish farmers’...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Farm Costs (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I start my first Oral Questions as Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine by wishing Deputy O'Donoghue well in his role as agriculture spokesperson for Labour and Deputy Kenny as agriculture spokesperson for Sinn Féin. Deputy Mac Lochlainn, who has left because he has an engagement, and the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, will work on all things to do with fisheries. We look...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Farm Costs (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: As the Deputy outlined, volatility is a significant issue. The volatility in input and output costs was reflected in family farm income. Following record years for income in 2021 and 2022, incomes fell in 2023. However, estimates for 2024 and the forecast for 2025 are more positive. Teagasc estimates an average increase of 49% for 2024 - admittedly from a low base - with all sectors...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Farm Costs (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The points raised by Deputy O'Donoghue illustrate some of the other challenges we face in this sector. At its heart is the challenge relating to succession. Income is also a key issue - the income the next generation of young male and female farmers can expect to attain. It feeds into their decision as to whether they want to take on the farm or not. That is why Food Vision 2030, our...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Environmental Schemes (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Kenny and look forward to working with him in the term ahead. I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue about which there has been a lot of concern - I absolutely understand that - for farmers who are working on peat-based or carbon-rich soils. There has been an element of misinformation or misunderstanding of what the GAECs are. I am happy to have the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I can confirm that over €441 million has been paid to date to participants in the ACRES Scheme. A total of €248 million has been paid to 43,032 participants, or 96% of all ACRES participants, in respect of their participation in the Scheme in 2023. Of the 1,876 farmers that have yet to receive their final payments for 2023,1,582 have received an interim payment of either...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: This Government is prioritising farm safety, health and wellbeing through the appointment of a Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae T.D. with specific responsibility for the area and a Programme for Government that includes a specific focus on farm safety, mental health and well-being. Dedicated funding of €2.5 million was secured in Budget 2025 to build on previous efforts to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The person named was accepted into ACRES General Tranche 1, with a contract commencement date of January 1st 2023. An interim payment of €4,000 issued to the herd owner in February 2024 in respect of their participation in the Scheme in 2023. This case was delayed due to an inspection related issue which has now been resolved. The balance 2023 claim is expected to be finalised...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticulture Sector (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027 sets down a clear vision to grow a more profitable, value-added sector, driven by innovation and sustainability and provides a road map for sector to achieve this potential. The strategic ambition for the strawberry sector is to 'profitably and sustainably grow and promote Irish strawberries, by modernising production systems that maximise...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Weather Events (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Government has included a commitment in the Programme for Government “Securing our Future” to develop an Extreme Weather Event Assistance Scheme for homes, community organisations, farmers and businesses. My Department will participate fully in the development of the scheme to successfully deliver on this commitment.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Breeding (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: An important pillar of Government policy is to support the development of the sport horse sector and enhance the breeding and marketing of Irish sport horses. My Department and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM) via Sport Ireland (SI) provide public funds to the sport horse industry to assist them meet these objectives. My Department provides...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The welfare of equines is protected by legislation and appropriate enforcement action is undertaken by my Department and authorised officers under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, including An Garda Síochána, Customs agents, authorised officers appointed by local authorities, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) and the Dublin Society for the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: For a geographical indication to be registered, an application must follow the procedures set out in the relevant EU regulations, with steps at both at national and European level. At the national level, my Department is responsible for examining applications to ensure that they meet the conditions of the relevant EU regulations. My Department has had extensive engagement with the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Breeding (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: An important pillar of Government policy is to support the development of the sport horse sector and enhance the breeding and marketing of Irish sport horses. My Department and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM) via Sport Ireland (SI) provide public funds to the sport horse industry to assist them meet these objectives. My Department provides...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 234 and 235 together. The trade in and the export of animals is a private commercial activity, but it is heavily regulated by my Department in accordance with European and Irish national law. At the time of movement, my Department carries out official controls on the animals to be traded within the EU or to be exported to third countries to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Meetings (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: There was a meeting between Ministers and Members of the Management Board on 30 January 2025. Ministers, their advisors, Management Board members and Private Secretaries attended.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Industry (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: Aquaculture offers an environmentally sustainable way of producing high quality, high protein foods. Applications for aquaculture licences for the cultivation of finfish are considered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and (in the case of marine aquaculture) the 1933 Foreshore Act. The licensing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Industry (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: Ireland has been to the forefront in protecting the vulnerable Sea Bass stock for many years with a complete prohibition on commercial fishing in place since 1990. In addition, EU vessels are prohibited from fishing for Sea Bass in Irish waters of Area 7 (the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and waters of the south-west and west coast). Recreational fisheries are also strictly controlled with only...

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: As I rise to my feet to express confidence in the Ceann Comhairle, I reflect on 106 years of Dáil Eireann, during that time from its first sitting on 21 January 1919, with the revolutionary Irish Republic being formed with some of its Members still in prison, to 9 March 1932 when we had that first changeover of power between two parties, when reportedly some Members of this House carried...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Payments (1 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 586 and 590 together. The person named was accepted into ACRES General Tranche 1, with a contract commencement date of January 1st 2023. An advance payment of €6,214.23 issued to the herd owner in December 2023 in respect of their participation in the Scheme in 2023. My Department has identified the cause of the issue that has been preventing this...