Results 1,541-1,560 of 4,291 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Horse Racing Industry (7 Dec 2022)

Martin Heydon: The Brexit adjustment reserve is where the ITBA has directed its ask and that is where the potential lies. You have to have that demonstrable impact from Brexit and there is no doubt in my mind that this industry has been impacted by that. The Senator spoke about successful schemes and so on. I pointed to the horse and greyhound racing fund earlier as a good indication of the Government's...

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: Animal Welfare (24 Nov 2022)

Martin Heydon: On behalf of the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, I thank Senator Boylan for raising what is a very important issue. I am delighted to have the opportunity to outline the work across government in this area, the commitments we have made in the programme for Government and how we are acting on them and what the different Departments are doing. The Senator has directed this question towards me...

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: Animal Welfare (24 Nov 2022)

Martin Heydon: I will bring the points raised by the Senator directly back to the Minister, Deputy McConalogue. The Commencement matter tabled by the Senator referred to capacity in the shelters and contingency plans. The broad approach the Government takes feeds into that. The programme for Government includes a commitment to promote responsible pet ownership. The Senator's point in respect of welfare...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mental Health Services (25 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this critically important issue. As Minister of State with special responsibility for farm safety, I have always considered farmers' mental health and wellbeing to be inextricably linked to farm safety. We know that a farmer is seven times more likely to lose his or her life in a workplace incident on his or her farm than in any other profession in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mental Health Services (25 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: I completely concur. All those challenges are there, from concerns about the price of inputs, the weather, inspections, prices for their products, overall economic sustainability to all the pressures resulting from a narrative out there that farmers are to blame for many of the challenges. The real risk here for farmers is isolation. They spend all their time on their own and may live in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mental Health Services (25 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: We are working with the HSE and working closely with Department of Health and other State agencies such as the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, where we have a number of initiatives and literature on that area as well. We are also funding further research. The Dublin City University, DCU, farm health study has a very important role to expand our information and knowledge in this area. In...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: Very good. I am in the hands of the Chair. I thank the committee for the invitation and opportunity to speak this evening as it engages in pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill. Unfortunately, the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, cannot be here present for understandable reasons but, on his behalf, I thank the members for facilitating an early discussion on this topic because it is a key...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: That is perfect.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: I thank Senator Daly for raising a number of important points. Initially he talked about antimicrobial resistance and intramammary tubes, which farmers are well aware of, having used them on a very regular basis. I take on board the concerns he has raised and am aware of the points that have been made at this committee previously. Like many colleagues, I too have met merchants and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: As of now, we have not-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: We are considering the new legal opinion that was submitted to us recently.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: We are always open to new legal opinion. As has been outlined, we have been through a lengthy process. So far, we have not seen legal opinion that has pointed to us being able to do that, but we are considering the new legal opinion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: I cannot go into detail of the legal opinion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: It has been submitted and is being considered. We are keeping an open mind and are analysing it in detail. To date, we have not seen a legal opinion that we have been comfortable with that could facilitate what the Deputy has described.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: I do not mean that in respect of the most recent opinion. I mean over the past two years.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: That is not what I am saying. I am saying we are considering the latest one, which was received recently. Prior to that, we had not seen anything that-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: The CEO of-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: Speaking as a Minister of State in the Department, I assure the Deputy that our focus is the farmer, animal health, the ability of farmers to sell their produce, and the wider food and drink industry, which at 14% of GDP is worth a great deal to our rural economy. From the perspective of animal health, food health and our reputation, ensuring antiparasitics are still of use to us down the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: When the vet is on a farm for the herd test and is examining and handling the animals, it is easy to ask him or her for a prescription there and then in the knowledge it will last the full 12 months until the next herd test.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Martin Heydon: No. I am just countering the Deputy's point. I told him at the beginning we had not made a decision. We have a new legal opinion, which is being considered. I am just replying to the Deputy's specific point. He painted a picture of a farmer going to a vet looking for a prescription for use on the same day. I am making the point that a prescription will last 12 months and that, in...