Results 81-100 of 3,701 for speaker:Martin Heydon

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

Martin Heydon: My Department procured independent scientific research on the native Irish honey bee (Apis mellifera mellifera). In October 2023, a 12 month contract was signed with the National University of Ireland, Galway to conduct this research. The research work concluded in December 2024 and the research report is currently being evaluated. This evaluation process is expected to conclude...

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

Martin Heydon: Bovine Tuberculosis is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. I am acutely aware of the financial and emotional trauma associated with a TB breakdown, and the associated hardship for farming families. Left unchecked, this disease will impact many more farm families, and therefore it is essential that we take measures now that can reverse the current trends. In this context it is...

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

Martin Heydon: I am aware of the alleged illegal importation of sheep semen from England. I can confirm that my Department has conducted an investigation into the matter, and while the Department does not normally comment on outcome of individual investigations, I can assure the Deputy that any non-compliant activities were dealt with appropriately and necessary actions were taken to protect the health of...

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

Martin Heydon: The Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) currently has policy responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act, 2010. The Dog Breeding Establishments Act provides a regulatory framework for the licensing, monitoring and inspection of dog breeding establishments by local authorities and, where a serious and immediate threat exists to public health or animal health and...

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

Martin Heydon: A high level stakeholder group was established by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) in 2024. The objective of the group is to consider the policy and legislative matters, specifically the Dog Control Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. The stakeholder group meets regularly and its remit includes considering the need for legislative change. This requires...

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

Martin Heydon: The Control of Horses Act, 1996 was introduced to provide for the control of horses and to make provision for the licensing of horses in urban and other areas where horses cause a danger or nuisance to people or property. The Act is currently under review within my Department. All submissions received will feed into the legislative process. My Department provides funding to local...

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

Martin Heydon: The person named was accepted into Tranche 1 of the ACRES General stream, with a start date of 1st January 2023. All payments due to this individual, i.e. all payments in respect of their participation in the Scheme in 2023, and their advance payment in respect of 2024, have issued. Balancing payments in respect of the 2024 scheme year are scheduled to commence next month. Scheme year...

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

Martin Heydon: The Control of Horses Act, 1996 was introduced to provide for the control of horses and to make provision for the licensing of horses in urban and other areas where horses cause a danger or nuisance to people or property. The Act is currently under review within my Department. My Department provides funding to local authorities as a contribution towards the costs incurred by them in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Wildlife Regulations (29 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I am aware of the importance of the sustainable management of our national deer population for agriculture, as well as for our nature ecosystems. In response to this my Department, along with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage the Irish Deer Management Strategy group was established to develop a strategy for the sustainable management of deer in Ireland. The Group...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (29 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Climate Action Plan 2025 includes a range of measures to reduce emissions from agriculture by 25%. These include reductions in the use of chemical nitrogen, the substitution of inhibited urea for other forms of fertiliser, reductions in the protein content of animal feed and improvements in breeding technologies to allow earlier finishing of beef cattle and a focus on low methane traits....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Sector (29 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Irish organic sector spans primary agriculture, food and drink processing, and aquaculture. It is seen as a key diversification option in FoodVision 2030. Land farmed organically has increased from 1.6% of land area in 2020 to approximately 5.5% today. This growth is on target to reach 10% by 2030, as outlined in our Climate Action Plan In 2024, a new, six-year strategy for organic...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Wildlife Regulations (29 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department, along with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage established the Irish Deer Management Strategy group to develop a strategy for the sustainable management of deer in Ireland. The Group comprised representatives from my Department, National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Coillte. A report was published into “Developing a Sustainable Deer...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord Bia (29 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1720, 1721, 1722, 1723, 1724 and 1725 together. In 2023, a Ministerial Trade Mission took place in West Africa which focused on developing trade and economic relationships between Ireland and that region, specifically Nigeria and Senegal. The trade mission included events in both Abuja and Lagos in Nigeria and Dakar in Senegal, including...

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

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1726 and 1727 together. Fat-filled milk powders are available to consumers in Ireland primarily via online retail. The placement of product on the market is a commercial decision for companies to make in accordance with the applicable legislation and market demand. Ireland is a small open trading economy and Irish dairy products are exported to around...

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

Martin Heydon: My Department is aware of the incident to which the deputy refers, however it is not appropriate to comment on individual cases. Zebras are classified as equines and therefore must comply with all of the EU equine identification and health certification requirements applicable to other equines such as horses and donkeys. The requirements for equine identification are set down in EU law...

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

Martin Heydon: In compliance with Section 47(4) of the Disability Act, my Department surveys all employees annually to establish the number of employees who have a disability. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has exceeded the minimum target for the employment of persons with disabilities in each of the last ten years (3% up to and including 2023 and 4.5% for 2024). It should be noted...

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

Martin Heydon: A key focus of Food Vision 2030, the strategic framework for the development of Ireland's agrifood sector, is to grow the value of our agrifood exports on international markets. Food Vision identifies a number of actions targeted at realising this value growth ambition. These actions include new market diversification and promotion activities. My Department works closely with Bord Bia...

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

Martin Heydon: On 16 December 2024, UK legislation was amended, via a Statutory Instrument (SI) to implement several management measures as set out in three published UK Fisheries Management Plans (FMP) including that of the Channel demersal non-quota species FMP (Fisheries Management Plan). One of the measures introduced, in order to help manage fishing effort on demersal non-quota species in inshore...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (29 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The European Commission has exclusive competence to negotiate with Third Countries on behalf of the EU in relation to fishing opportunities, on the basis of a mandate agreed by Council. There has been engagement between the European Commission and Member States as regards discussions on Iceland and my Department takes an active involvement in discussions which may impact, or offer...

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

Martin Heydon: I recently launched the Early-Stage Support for Producer Organisations (ESSPO) Scheme which aims to support the formation and establishment of Producer Organisations (POs). The ESSPO Scheme is a multi-annual measure under the CAP Strategic Plan which will support groups of producers to form recognised POs across the following seven sectors – beef, sheep, milk, potato, tillage, plant...