Results 301-320 of 2,944 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: Can I make one wrap-up point on that and take on board that sentiment felt strongly by farmers. I argue that on the fertiliser side of things, this will reduce the reporting burden on farmers, but also-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: Not only in relation to that point but on the earlier point we discussed in the first two and half hours of this meeting, there is the bigger picture here. It is not just about what is the most convenient for farmers today or tomorrow. It is about protecting this industry and future-proofing it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: Farmers keep records under the nitrates directive. They are used to that reporting requirement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: Mr. Massey will answer that very valid point about derogation farmers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: That is subjective. I have to re-iterate to Senator Lombard that the priority here has been to meet our regulatory requirements while also giving farmers the greatest choice possible and trying to minimise that impact on businesses that are in that space. It is a matter of trying to strike the right balance between all those different bits. Change is challenging for lots of different...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: We have received the opinion very recently. We are in the hands of the committee as to whether we finish tonight and the committee gives the go-ahead, pending the analysis of that decision. Obviously, there is time pressure here, not just for this part of the Bill, but also for the second part of the Bill, which we will discuss in time. Some farmers are dependent on eco schemes and other...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: That is a very specific point on which I might defer to my officials. Would the contractor be applying fertiliser in that specific space?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: Greenkeepers, golf courses, sports turf and similar operators are covered by this. They have to register as users. It depends whether the club purchases the fertiliser separately or if it is sold by the operator. An operator might offer an overall package where the club pays X amount of money for the process and part of the cost is for the fertilser. It is the same as a farmer dealing with...

Financial Resolutions 2022 - Financial Resolution No. 6: General: Financial Resolution (Resumed) (28 Sep 2022)

Martin Heydon: Ingenuity and innovation flow throughout our agricultural sector. As our most important indigenous industry, farming and food production employ more than 160,000 people. It generates €14 billion in exports, which brings money into rural communities throughout the country. It is a sector on which the Government places a significant value, and one we want to grow and continue to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I also thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Discussions are ongoing at governmental level across all sectors and range over the points in respect of emissions targets. The Deputy raised a valid point, which is that farmers and our farming sector have been on a journey of transition for some time. We continue to produce our food more efficiently...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: I agree with Deputy Griffin that the UK will remain an important market for Irish food and drink. Since the result of the Brexit referendum, however, we have stepped up the efforts of diversification, and in my role with responsibility for new market development in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I have worked very closely with the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: Deputy Griffin can take it as a given that we will continue to work across Government to hold the British Government to the international obligations it has signed up to. I am a firm believer in controlling the things we can control, and in respect of my role in the Department, that is clearly to look at tangible efforts to ensure we have a broader diversification of the markets we export...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Agreements (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: As the Deputy will be aware, the European Union and New Zealand reached a political agreement in principle on a new free trade agreement on 30 June 2022. I take this opportunity to inform the House that since the launch of these negotiations in June 2018, Ireland consistently pressed the European Commission to ensure the outcome of these negotiations would be balanced and would take into...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Agreements (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: I outlined in my initial response the efforts that have been made and that a very close focus has been kept on this in my Department as to the impact this could have here and the need to protect the interests of farm families. The business model of our farm families in this country is very much dependent on the fact we are a small, open nation that exports 90% of the food and drink we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Agreements (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: As I outlined earlier, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is the lead Department in trade policy but it takes a very clear direction and has very close contact with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on such matters. This is an area in which we obviously have a clear insight in respect of the sensitivities that would have an impact on Irish farm families....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: We long for the days when Brexit was the biggest challenge we faced. It was, and continues to be, a big challenge. We have to be aware of the medium-term challenges from the fallout from Brexit, particularly in the agri-food sector. The Deputy will be aware that the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, TCA, maintained tariff-free access for all goods traded between the UK and the EU....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: It is important that the point raised by Deputy Griffin and its impact are discussed in the House. I should point out that there are sufficient supplies of animal feed at present and importers are actively competing on the global market to ensure that supply continues uninterrupted. Animal feed stocks and imports are being monitored on a regular basis by my Department. What Deputy Griffin...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: Regarding green diesel, the interventions the Government has made to date have seen all excise duty removed from green diesel, in line with changes to ordinary petrol and diesel excise where there have been record removals in those areas as well. The targeted measures I mentioned will help Irish farmers at a time of escalating costs and build resilience against the expected impact of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Griffin for raising a really important point. I completely agree that the humanitarian crisis will always take priority in terms of our view of this matter. As the Deputy outlined, there are also significant implications, which we are seeing across all sectors, including the agrifood sector, from Russia's illegal and awful war in Ukraine. We need to take the necessary steps...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Horse Racing Industry (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: Smaller racecourses have gained from being aligned with the larger racecourses and this has enhanced their value. Media rights agreements are subject to approval by HRI and the 26 racecourses involved. While I take on board the points the Deputy has raised and am happy to discuss it today, racecourses also contribute an element of their sponsorship income to prize money with bigger...