Results 301-320 of 4,808 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Bodies (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I wish to advise the Deputy that Circular 25/2016: Protocol for the Provision of Information to Members of the Oireachtas by State Bodies states that each State Body must have a dedicated email address for Oireachtas Members. The dedicated email address for each of the State Bodies under the remit of my Department are set out in the table below. State Body Email...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sports Funding (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2209 and 2210 together. I wish to inform the Deputy that all of the schemes outlined below are currently open for applications. Sporting and community organisations with appropriate land access are eligible to apply, subject to meeting scheme conditions. Details of Capital Funding Programme or Grant Opening Date ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Programme for Government clearly sets out the Government's commitment to present the best case for continuance of Ireland's current Nitrates Derogation whilst working with farmers to deliver improved water quality. A Cabinet Committee on water quality chaired by the Taoiseach to coordinate water quality improvements and to work to secure Ireland's Nitrates Derogation at EU level has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2212 and 2216 together. The Commission's proposals for the next CAP and the next EU Budget (MFF) post-2027, published on 16 July, are the first step in a long process of negotiation. The next MFF will ultimately be agreed by EU Heads of State and Government at the European Council. My Department will analyse the Commission’s proposals in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Commission's proposals for the next CAP and the next EU Budget (MFF) post-2027, published on 16 July, are the first step in a long process of negotiation. The next MFF will ultimately be agreed by EU Heads of State and Government at the European Council. My Department will analyse the Commission’s proposals in detail to fully understand the implications for both the structure...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: At the December 2024 Nitrates Committee, my officials advised that in accordance with the Nitrates Directive, Ireland wished to apply for permission to continue applying in excess of 170kg of livestock manure Nitrogen per hectare from 2026, subject to a set of conditions that will ensure that application is scientifically justified and will continue to contribute to the achievement of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Weather Events (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The unpredictable nature of extreme weather/flooding events and the resulting impact on agriculture does not lend itself to a ready made scheme template where local effects vary with the event. My Department in recent years has provided a number of schemes to support farmers who have been badly affected by extreme weather/flooding. These include the Shass Landslide, The Shannon Callows,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Programme for Government; Our Shared Future (2020) included a commitment to establish an independent Agriculture Appeals Review Panel in legislation. The Agriculture Appeals (Amendment) Act 2024 was passed by the Oireachtas and signed into law by the President in October 2024. The 2024 Act provides for the establishment of an independent body, to be known as the ‘Agriculture...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: At this point in time over 99% of participants have had their 2023 payments finalised. Almost 98% of participants have now received their 2024 advance payment which is worth 85% of the total payment for 2024. Finally over 95% have also received the remainder of their 2024 payments which issue in the balancing payments. The issuing of payments has gathered considerable momentum this year...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: Alternative products, containing the EU-approved active substances carfentrazone-ethyl or pyraflufen-ethyl, are currently authorised in Ireland by my Department for use as potato crop desiccants. Teagasc advises that these products can be used effectively in many cases as part of an integrated pest management approach. This approach may involve seed manipulation prior to planting to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: Coursing is regulated under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC), subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann. The granting of licenses for the netting and tagging of hares is a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage – National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). A monitoring...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Assisted Animal Reproduction (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) announced in April 2024 that it had updated its Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Practitioners to prohibit veterinarians from carrying out surgical artificial insemination in dogs due to ethical and welfare considerations. However, this new prohibition does not apply to greyhounds, as the practice is provided for in legislation under the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Assisted Animal Reproduction (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) announced in April 2024 that it had updated its Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Practitioners to prohibit veterinarians from carrying out surgical artificial insemination in dogs due to ethical and welfare considerations. However, this new prohibition does not apply to greyhounds, as the practice is provided for in legislation under the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The nitrates derogation is very important to Ireland’s agri-food sector, particularly in the context of supporting sustainable and economically viable dairy and livestock production. I continue to emphasise, in all relevant fora, the critical need to retain a workable derogation framework that balances environmental protection with farm-level implementation. My Department and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Communities (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The primary source of funding for the seafood sector, which includes small-scale fishermen, is the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) (2021 – 2027). The EMFAF Regulation is aligned with the objectives of the CFP. Neither Regulation makes provision for income supports for fishers, as such it is not possible to implement income supports under our funding programme...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Payments (29 Jul 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. This participant requested to transfer to a Registered Farm Partnership in April 2023. I acknowledge the difficulties created for the person referred to, and for other ACRES participants, who have not yet received their...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The staff full-time equivalents (FTE) for the Department as at 21.07.25 broken down by grade is outlined in tabular form at the link below.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Information and Communications Technology (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Digital Strategy (2023-2026) includes a stated goal to create a proficient digital workforce, with staff trained to be proficient in the relevant digital skillsets and tools, including cybersecurity.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Payments (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The persons named submitted separate applications under the ACRES Co-operation stream and were both approved into Tranche 1 of the scheme, with a commencement date of 1st January 2023. Both of the participants named have had payments to their individual contracts finalised in respect of the 2023 scheme year. These participants requested to transfer to a Registered Farm Partnership in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Payments (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: Since the time my Department was first approached with regard to the group commonly referred to as forgotten farmers, the group was defined as young farmers who were under the age of 40 in 2015, had established their holdings prior to 2008 and were not eligible for young farmer supports under the CAP from 2015. In recognition of the withdrawal of the Installation Aid Scheme in October...