Results 581-600 of 4,825 for speaker:Martin Heydon

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

Martin Heydon: As you are aware, Ireland has a rich equestrian heritage, and has long been celebrated for its passion for horses and the exceptional quality of its equine industry. We are world-renowned for our affinity with horses and are proud of our reputation of being the ‘Land of the Horse’. The Irish equestrian industry has a deep-rooted history in our culture and is also a critical...

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

Martin Heydon: The following tables outline the money provided from my Department to the sport horse sector in the past ten years: Year Sport Horse Sector Grant Equine Technical Support and Equine Breeding Schemes 2016 €1,870,000 €845,763 2017 €2,060,000 €850,000 2018 ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Responsibilities (25 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: Minister of State Dooley, while having responsibility for Fisheries at my Department, also has responsibility for matters relating to the Marine at the Department of the Environment, Climate Change and Communications. The legislation to be delegated to Minister of State Dooley relating to both Fisheries and the Marine is both complex and wide-ranging. Officials at my Department are in...

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

Martin Heydon: The information requested is not readily available and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (25 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 Schemes (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Capital Investment Scheme for the Processing and Marketing of Agricultural products was approved as part of the previous Government’s Brexit response to support the food processing industry. This €100 million support scheme assists food processors in the meat and dairy sectors to diversify their product ranges and markets to support their export activity, to the benefit of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department does not have a designated Head of Procurement position. However, my Department does have a Procurement Officer, which is at the grade of Assistant Principal Officer. The Procurement Officer reports to the Head of Finance and Central Procurement Development Division. The Procurement Officer supports Line Divisions and reports to senior management, as appropriate. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: The HR Learning and Development Division of my Department provides training and resources to staff on good practice in procurement and compliance with relevant guidelines and legislation. Such training resources are provided in the form of training courses and lunch and learn webinars. My HR Learning and Development Division also supports staff to pursue academic qualifications in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department utilises a number of tools to monitor contract management and procurement. The eTenders platform is used by my Department to advertise and run formal procurement competitions. The eTenders platform is maintained by European Dynamics, who were awarded the contract to provide this service by the Office of Government Procurement. My Department has monitoring capability in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Projects (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: The responsibility for the development and maintenance of local authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each local authority in the first instance. The primary governance role for local authorities rests with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. However, my Department has provided funding to assist coastal local authorities in carrying out projects for the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Industry (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for HRI, and has therefore been referred to that body for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Reports (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has not actively 'unpublished' any relevant documents, reports, strategies, or resources over the past 10 years, notwithstanding any temporary, technical matter that would impact on website access, which is resolved as soon as possible. I am wholly committed to open publication of government information. My Department shares various...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: As per section 10 of the scheme terms and conditions, Registered Farm Partnerships (RFPs) are eligible to participate in ACRES subject to certain provisions as outlined. Payments have issued to RFPs and will continue to do so over the remainder of the scheme. Having said this, issues have arisen in certain circumstances where a change of contract is taking place. The process of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl, under statute. Every year, my Department allocates funding under the Fishery Harbour Centre and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, which contains details of the capital projects planned for each...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Projects (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl, under statute. Every year, my Department allocates funding under the Fishery Harbour Centre and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, which includes details of the capital projects planned for each...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 693 and 694 together. Under the 2014-2020 Forestry Programme, a pure Oak plantation approved under the relevant Grant and Premium Category at the time cannot be changed to Agroforestry. Similarly, if the Ash Dieback site has previously been reconstituted and already planted with Oak, it cannot be changed to Agroforestry. However, if the site has not yet...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Industry (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. Whilst I have not yet formally met with the CEO of HRI, I have met the CEO as part of my wider engagements with the horse racing industry and it is my intention to meet...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (24 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. Whilst I have not yet formally met with the CEO of RCÉ,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department has responsibility for foreshore licensing functions in respect of designated fishery harbour centres, activities wholly or primarily for the use, development or support of aquaculture, and activities which are wholly or primarily for the use, development, or support of wild fisheries. Applications for foreshore licences are considered in accordance with the provisions of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Water Pollution (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: There is currently an unprecedented, significant and very welcome engagement across the entire agri-food industry to drive improvements in our water quality, and the Government is playing its part too. The current Nitrates Action Programme, introduced in 2022, provides the strongest protections yet regarding water quality from an agricultural perspective. Earlier this year, the regulatory...