Results 281-300 of 3,701 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Issues (26 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department has been in contact with the person named in relation to their application. They submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (Agriculture) application for a Consent Decision in September 2024. As per EIA (Agriculture) S.I. No. 456 of 2011, this application was published on my Department’s website for a 30-day public consultation period. The consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (26 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together. 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. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Data Protection (26 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: I wish to assure the Deputy that my Department is fully aware of its requirements under Data Protection legislation, and is continuously working towards compliance with all aspects of the GDPR and the Data Protection Act. My Department has a Data Protection Unit in place to assist in meeting its compliance requirements. It also has a Data Protection Officer to provide advice and guidance...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: The National Sheep Welfare Scheme 2024 was in operation from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024. Payments under the scheme commenced in November 2024 to cleared cases, and thus far, €15.20 million has been paid to 16,336 participants in the scheme. Additional payments will continue to issue as cases are cleared for payment, including those selected for an on-farm inspection or a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Weather Events (26 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: A number of measures have already been introduced to assist people impacted by Storm Éowyn. I announced a targeted re-opening of the 2025 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector to deal only with growers proposing investments in response to the damage caused by the Storm. This targeted re-opening responded to the call for assistance to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Mar 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. Payments in respect of scheme year 2023 have been finalised for this case. The 2024 advance payment has not yet been made due to an issue with the claim for Rotational Actions on the contract. My Department is working to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (26 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department takes its responsibilities for protecting animal welfare most seriously and strongly condemns any cruelty or mistreatment of animals. It should be noted that we have robust legislation in this country to protect the welfare of all animals and, in the case of pigs, there is sector-specific legislation in place which is based on existing EU rules. It is my Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: The family farm remains central to Irish agriculture, with women contributing in many different capacities. I recognise that policies must support greater gender equality. That is why a request for proposals to investigate “Women in Farming – Examining the visibility, equality and status of women in farming in Ireland” was included in my Department’s Policy and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: It is a key responsibility of Government to raise Ireland's concerns with our EU partners and to influence EU policy. For my part as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I meet with my counterparts in the Council of the European Union every month to discuss and shape agriculture and food policy in the EU. I have and will continue to engage with Christophe Hansen, the European...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: Taxation policy is primarily the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Finance. However, both Departments work closely to ensure taxation policy is consistent with Government priorities for the agri-food sector. The new Programme for Government prioritises “supporting inter-generational farm succession”. Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the agri-food...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: A total of €247.4 million has been paid to 42,631 participants (25,537 General and 17,094 Co-operation), or 95% of all ACRES participants, in respect of their participation in the Scheme in 2023. A further 2,302 farmers have yet to receive their final payments for 2023. Of these, 2,008 have already received an interim payment of either €4,000 or €5,000, respectively,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme, or "ACRES" as it is more commonly known, is the first scheme of its kind to upscale results-based payments to a national level. The implementation of such an ambitious and innovative scheme is a significant change in the way agri-environmental schemes are delivered, and this change has come with complexities and challenges. As of March 21st,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: In 2024, my Department provided advice to Dublin Zoo in relation to import requirements that may have been applicable to hyperimmune serum that was being imported from Chester Zoo. The Zoo was advised by my Department that this product was exempt from import controls as it was classed as a veterinary medicinal product. My Department has no role in the operational management of elephant...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: The responsibility for the development and maintenance of local authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each local authority. The relevant local authority in the case of Cé Heilbhic is Waterford City & County Council. As part of the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, my Department provides funding to assist coastal local...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: In 2018, a transition period to a ban on vessels over 18 metres trawling in inshore waters, inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines, was announced. This measure, however, was the subject of extended legal proceedings resulting in the measure being overturned in 2023. In 2024, over a period of eight weeks, the Minister held a new public consultation on a review of trawling...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: The afforestation rates for the years 2020-2024 are as follows: In 2020, 2,434 hectares were planted and in 2021, 2,016 hectares. In 2022, 2,073 hectares were planted. In 2023, 1,651 hectares were planted. Last year there were 1,573 hectares of new planting. The current forestry programme is the best funded in the state's history providing the most attractive financial...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: In 2018, a transition period to a ban on vessels over 18 metres trawling in inshore waters, inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines, was announced. This measure, however, was the subject of extended legal proceedings resulting in the measure being overturned in 2023. In 2024, over a period of eight weeks, the Minister held a new public consultation on a review of trawling...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Sanctions (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: As a small, open exporting economy, Ireland is sensitive to any change in global trading conditions. Therefore, any imposition of tariffs by the U.S. authorities will if enacted have the potential to pose significant challenges for Irish exporters of agri-food products to the US. This is of particular concern as the US is the second largest market for Irish agri-food exports after the UK...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this question on such an important issue. Farm safety, health and wellbeing is a priority for this Government. There is a specific focus in the Programme for Government on farmer mental health and well-being, recognising the unique challenges faced by the sector. Through dedicated funding of €2.5 million allocated in Budget 2025,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: Budget 2025 allocated a sum of €22 million for the continuation and expansion of the National Sheep Welfare Scheme (NSWS). The increased funding will provide for an additional €5 breeding ewe payment bringing the total scheme payment rate for participants to €13 per ewe this year. The increased payment rate will ensure that, when combined with the €12 per ewe...