Results 1,361-1,380 of 4,291 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank Senator Kyne for raising this important issue. It is important to put the first-hand story of his constituent's experience on the record of House. What he outlined is not good enough. I am giving this response on behalf of the Minister for Health, who, unfortunately, cannot be here. The Minister and his officials have visited the University Hospital Galway campus on a number of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I again thank the Senator for raising this. The response I was given by the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, does not have clear timelines in it. It does have a process. In fairness, it can be hard to predict specific timelines in each stage of the process. That has potential for delays. I will outline further in the supplementary reply I have that the proposals are...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue, no more so for those who are in need of dialysis in County Clare. I am giving this response on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, who unfortunately cannot be here, for what continues to be a very important issue for the people of Clare and the mid-west. First, I would like to reassure the Senator that the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Inshore Fisheries (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Senator for raising what is a really important issue. I am responding on behalf of the Minster, who is unable to be here. As the Senator will be aware, Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI, is the State body with responsibility for the protection, management, conservation, promotion, marketing and development of the inland fisheries resource. Officials in the Department of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Inshore Fisheries (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank Senator Ahearn again for raising this really important issue. I regret IFI was not in a position, from the time that elapsed since the Senator tabled this important topic, to provide that requested information on the number of calls. However, we will follow up on that and get back to the Senator. Also, I have a detailed breakdown of the number of prosecutions, penalty notices and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Pension Provisions (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank Senator Davitt for raising this issue. I understand the question relates to the standard fund threshold regime and how it applies to different types of pensions and, in particular, the defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes. As Senator Davitt is aware, Ireland operates an exempt tax system for the taxation of pension funds. This means the contributions to pensions...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Pension Provisions (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank Senator Davitt for the opportunity to speak to the House on the issue. Unfortunately, the Minister was unable to be here. As I outlined, the SFT limit applies to all types of pensions in both the private and public sectors. However, it is the case that the valuation methodology for applying SFT varies between defined contribution and defined benefit schemes, as I have already...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tourist Accommodation (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank Senator Chambers for raising what is an important issue and I offer this response on behalf of the Minister for tourism, Deputy Martin, who is unable to be here today. I will, first, attest to the many fine qualities of Mayo as a tourism destination, having holidayed there myself with my family on a number of occasions and always found it a brilliant place to holiday in. The...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tourist Accommodation (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: The importance of the tourism sector to the Irish economy and communities across Ireland is understood well by Government. The role of the Minister, her Department and Fáilte Ireland is to support the tourism industry and work for the sustainable development of Ireland as a high-quality and competitive tourism destination. Fáilte Ireland provides a range of practical business...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: That was the information in the reply given to me. Unfortunately, the response does not contain clear timelines. With any matters such as these, there is the potential, through statutory processes, for delays. It can be hard to earmark exact timelines but I reiterate that the Government remains fully committed to improving health services. We have demonstrated that commitment with strong...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Services (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I can imagine how frustrating this process has been for the people of Clogh and Moneenroe, as well as for the Deputy, as a public representative for the area. Obviously, the Minister is unable to be here and I am offering this response in his place. As the Deputy will understand, the supply of public water and the provision of water...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Services (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I accept Deputy McGuinness's bona fides on this issue and I am a firm believer in the parliamentary process. Notwithstanding that the response I am delivering today is similar to one he received previously, the squeaky wheel does get the oil. If the Deputy, as a Member of this House, continues to raise a matter here, that does have an impact. It is heard by Ministers, officials and the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Projects (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: Again, I thank Deputy Sherlock for raising this important point. I completely understand the need and desire to see progress in this area. Unfortunately, if we are to continue the analogy with Athy, we were a long time waiting as it is a slow process that is exceedingly frustrating for everybody who is impacted. Public representatives have to stick with it and continue to highlight the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Heritage Sites (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Durkan for raising these pertinent points which are hugely important to the constituents he represents in Kildare North. He and I agree that growing the numbers of visitors to Castletown House and estate is in everyone’s interest. It is a fantastic facility. We want more people to enjoy it and learn about it. The move to active travel for visitors will result in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Projects (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Sherlock for raising this important issue on national secondary routes and, in particular, the Mallow relief road. As he outlined, I am giving this response on behalf of the Minister for Transport, who is unable to be here. The Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding with regard to the national roads programme. Once funding...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Heritage Sites (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I offer this response on behalf of the Minister, who is unable to attend this morning. I thank Deputy Durkan for his ongoing interest in Castletown House. As a fellow Kildare man, I know of the huge emotion and upset there is around developments in the area around Castletown House and estate. In recent months, Deputy Durkan has made continuous representations through parliamentary...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I will respond to Deputy Danny Healy-Rae. Let us not do a disservice to farmers, who are doing a great deal in respect of nature restoration. What farmer does the Deputy know who does not want to see better biodiversity, improved water quality and lower emissions in his or her area? Farmers are working towards all of that as well as producing top-quality food. There is no need for...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: Enough scaremongering, Deputy.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (22 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: The Deputy is right in saying there is a range of agricultural reliefs. Some of these we take for granted, but if anything were ever to happen to the agricultural relief for young farmers, stamp duty relief and consanguinity duty relief, through which €274 million was provided in support in 2022, we would know very quickly how big a devastating impact that would have. I mention the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Farm Safety (22 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I share with the Deputy in offering condolences to the families of those affected in that awful tragedy on Tuesday. There are other initiatives. I see my role in farm safety as not just involving the physical form of farm safety but the mental health and well-being of farmers. My Department continues to support research into farmer health and well-being. The DCU-led farm health...