Results 101-120 of 4,778 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (18 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the organisation charged with the role of Keeper of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book (IGSB) since 1923. The Stud Book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership of all greyhounds. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann. The ICC has informed my Department that the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (18 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I understand from the Irish Coursing Club that 8,637 non-coursing greyhounds, whose year of birth was 2024, were registered at microchipping stage.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (18 Sep 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. The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (18 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Whilst my Department does provide animal welfare related funding to charities in relation to their animal welfare related activities, and having examined the material referenced, as forwarded by the Deputy, it is clear that the request is more oriented as a sports grant application for dog showing equipment for competitions as opposed to for assistance re welfare activities. Furthermore,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (18 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Animal welfare is a key priority for me, as Minister, and for the Government. The Animal Welfare Grants Programme provides considerable support for animal welfare charities to assist them in their vital work in rescuing and rehoming animals. In November 2024, funding of almost €6 million was provided to 101 animal welfare charities nationwide including an award of €931,750 to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Vaccination Programme (18 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Badger vaccination is now a key part of the Irish TB Eradication Programme. This follows over 15 years of research work using BCG vaccine to prevent tuberculosis infection in badgers, and scientific trials carried out between 2013 and 2017 that show that vaccination is no less effective than culling. The large-scale rollout of badger vaccination commenced in late 2019. Every year more and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Procurement Contracts (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department has published the reports of procurement-related payments of purchase orders over €20,000 for Quarter 1 and 2 of 2025. These reports, along with prior years reports are available on the Department's website at www.agriculture.gov.ie under the Contracts Awarded link in the Freedom of Information (FOI) section. The Quarter 3 report will be published in Quarter 4 of 2025.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Procurement Contracts (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The reports have now been published in .xls (excel) format as requested. They are available on the Department's website at www.agriculture.gov.ie under the Contracts Awarded link in the Freedom of Information (FOI) section.. Future reports will also be published on my Department’s website in this format on a quarterly basis.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The budgetary process for 2026 is still underway. I am therefore not in a position to give any specific details in relation to Budget 2026 at this time. My Department has committed €550,000 in research funding for the SPRINGWOOL project: “Spring Wool - removing bottlenecks and providing a springboard for innovation in the Irish Grown Wool sector". This research project...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Animal welfare is a key priority for my Department and considerable funding is provided to support eligible animal welfare charities nationwide, through the annual Animal Welfare Grant Programme, which is administered by my Department. The purpose of the Animal Welfare grants programme, is to provide funding to registered animal welfare charities in Ireland that are engaged in the rescue,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (17 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 Schemes (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I would like to take this opportunity to extend my condolences to the family in question. Following further examination of this case, my Department has identified that the herdowner named passed away before an ACRES application had been formally submitted. In effect, no application was received to participate in the Scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Data (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Listed in the table below are the food products, plant products or any other products which were seized by the officials of my Department at ports of entry to the State during 2024 and, to date in 2025. My Department does not have access to data on the value of the goods seized. Port of Entry Category Type Weight (kg) Rosslare ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The person named was accepted into Tranche 1 of the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) with a start date of 1st January 2023 and is up to date with payments. The ACRES contract value for the herd owner has been calculated at €4,173.78. However, a conditionality penalty of €208.68 was applied. The difference of €173.78 between the contract value and the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Functions (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Animal welfare is a key priority for me, as Minister, and for the Government. The Animal Welfare Grants Programme, administered by my Department, provides considerable financial supports to eligible animal welfare charities engaged in the rescue, rehoming and rehabilitation of animals. In November 2024, funding of almost €6 million was provided to 101 animal welfare charities, through...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Data (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department provides considerable support for animal welfare charities through the Animal Welfare Grants Programme, to assist them in their vital work in rescuing and rehoming animals. In November 2024, funding of almost €6 million was provided to 101 animal welfare charities nationwide. My Department does not maintain a register regarding all animal sanctuaries operating in Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The application window for the scheme to support Long Established Young Farmers, more commonly referred to as forgotten farmers, has closed. The scheme was widely flagged in the farming media and was open for just over 3 weeks from July to receive applications. During that period my Department also issued text message reminders to potential applicants whose applications were still in draft....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Programme for Government is clear, whereby it includes a commitment to “work with like-minded EU countries to stand up for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal”. Irish and EU farmers are subject to complex regulations requiring them to farm in a sustainable manner, which is why it is difficult to explain to them why...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The tillage sector is an integral part of Irish farming and makes a significant contribution to overall agricultural output. It is recognised as a very low greenhouse gas emitting sector when compared to other agricultural sectors. This Government recognises the importance of the sector and wants to grow the area under tillage crops. The report of the Food Vision Tillage Group, which...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I fully recognise the pressures facing the tillage sector due to a challenging market outlook and downward price pressure this season, and I have recently engaged directly with the farming organisations to hear their concerns. This Government recognises the importance of the tillage sector and wants to grow the area under tillage crops. In recognition of the sector’s importance, my...