Results 61-80 of 4,778 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Inland Fisheries (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 736 and 737 together. My Department was involved with the interagency group (IAG) investigation of this incident on the River Blackwater which determined that there was no indication that livestock health, or food of animal origin from primary production, was affected by this incident. My Department participated in the IAG and attended the IAG meetings in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tax Exemptions (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Programme for Government prioritises “supporting inter-generational farm succession”. Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the agri-food sector, states that generational renewal in farming is critically important to ensure the future viability and social sustainability of the Irish agri-food sector and of rural Ireland. There are a number of supports for generational...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Slaughtering (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Meat products produced through ritual slaughter methods, including Halal are not required to be labelled as such under EU Regulations. There are currently no moves to make it mandatory to include slaughter method on meat labels in the European Union or in Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Labelling (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Where a food business handles and/or processes foods of animal origin that may need approval under the European Union (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 22/2020) they must apply to their Competent Authority and undergo a series of inspections. Once approved by the relevant competent authority, the food business is assigned a unique reference number called an ‘approval...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department is responsible for verification that labelling of meat produced in establishments approved by my Department is compliant with EU Regulations, particularly EU Regulation 1169/2011 on food information for consumers. The particulars required to be present on labels include the name of the food, net weight, date of minimum durability, country of origin, storage instructions,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Data (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: For operational and security reasons, my Department has been advised by the National Cyber Security Centre not to disclose particular arrangements in place in relation to IT tools and services or details which could, in any way, identify potential vulnerabilities in Departmental Cybersecurity arrangements.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 743, 746 and 747 together. While taxation policy is primarily the responsibility of my colleague the Minister of Finance, I work closely with him on taxation issues relating to the agri-food sector. Following consultations with stakeholders and consistent with the Government’s priorities, I make an annual submission to the Minister for Finance on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Teagasc Activities (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The continued development of the pigmeat sector is a priority for my Department, given the pivotal role the industry plays in the national economic context. The sector generates substantial revenue and employment opportunities in rural areas, playing a crucial role in sustaining local economies. I am aware of the work carried out by the Teagasc Pig Department in examining potential...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The new Programme for Government prioritises “supporting inter-generational farm succession”. Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the agri-food sector, states that generational renewal in farming is critically important to ensure the future viability and social sustainability of the Irish agri-food sector and of rural Ireland. There are a number of supports for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible for the Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters Regulations 2022 (SI 113 of 2022, as amended). Under these Regulations the closed period for applying slurry to land now commences on the 1st of October annually. In 2022 the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, following consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Procurement Contracts (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Officials in my Department are currently updating the Contract Award Notices for all contracts valued over €25,000 ex-VAT to ensure full compliance with Circular 05/2023. This will be completed shortly. Separately, my Department publishes the details of all contracts awarded that are valued over €25,000 ex-VAT on a quarterly basis on my Department’s website. These...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Procurement Contracts (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: It is my Department's policy in relation to any competitive process undertaken in accordance with Regulation 55 of S.I. No. 284/2016 and without the assistance of any external agencies (e.g. The Office of Government Procurement or the Education Procurement Service) that unsuccessful tenderers are provided with:The name of the successful tenderer;A scoring breakdown including their own scores...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Procurement Contracts (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: It is my Department's policy in relation to any competitive process undertaken in accordance with Regulation 55 of S.I. No. 284/2016 and without the assistance of any external agencies (e.g. The Office of Government Procurement or the Education Procurement Service) that unsuccessful tenderers are provided with:The name of the successful tenderer;A scoring breakdown including their own scores...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: This Government recognises the importance of the tillage sector and wants to grow the area under tillage crops in the years ahead. However, the use of land for tillage or any other agricultural enterprise is untimely a matter for farmers themselves. Despite the various challenges that the sector has faced in recent years, the area of crops has remained relatively stable. Since 2020, the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: In general, land burnt during the closed season (March 1st to August 31st) is not eligible for the purpose of payment under the BISS or any other area based scheme. My Department actively identifies areas of burnt land declared for area based schemes, and in particular land that is burned during the closed season. Where land is identified as having been burned during the closed season no...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Food produced at establishments approved by my Department that is recalled by reason of confirmation of the presence of microorganisms linked to food borne disease must be declared unfit for human consumption. This recalled food must be disposed of under Animal By-Product Regulation 1069/2009 if it is of animal origin. This means that it must be sent to an animal by-product handling facility....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible for the Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters Regulations 2022 (SI 113 of 2022, as amended). Under these Regulations the closed period for applying slurry to land now commences on the 1st of October annually. In 2022 the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, following consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 758 and 759 together. My Department provides a range of financial supports that focus on compensating farmers for both direct and indirect losses incurred as a result of a TB breakdown on the farm. The On Farm Market Valuation scheme provides compensation to affected herdowners up to the market value that each individual animal would have attained on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: There is detailed European Union and Irish legislation in place on the protection of broiler chickens which sets out specific requirements that must be met by anyone keeping commercial broiler flocks. Trained Veterinary Inspectors from my Department carry out risk-based inspections of a selection of flocks each year to check compliance with these requirements. The inspections are carried out...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Byrne for raising this important issue. He touched on the heart of the challenge. It has been three really difficult years for the tillage sector, and for tillage farmers in particular, due to weather, prices and ongoing challenges. The tillage sector is an incredibly important component of the overall agricultural sector. Farmers are very dependent on one another. We are...