Results 141-160 of 3,701 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Surveys (10 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The information requested by the Deputy is being collated by my Department and a response will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (9 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 212 together. In March of this year, I, along with Minister of State Timmy Dooley, announced details of €27.75 million of funding allocated for capital projects in Ireland’s publicly owned harbours through the 2025 Fishery Harbour Centre and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. This aligns with our Programme for Government...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (9 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: Under the new Forestry Programme 2023-2027, the Woodlands Creation on Public Lands Scheme is now being offered through my Department’s Afforestation Scheme as Forest Type 3 ‘Forest Creation on Public Lands’. The Afforestation Scheme 2023-2027 offers landowners, including Local Authorities a choice of 12 Forest Types which cover a broad range of planting options. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (9 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217, 214, 215 and 216 together. 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. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (9 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department annually prepares and posts an application pack to all farmers who applied for BISS in the previous year. Printing and dispatch of the these packs is currently ongoing with the last batch of packs to be posted next week. The packs are not printed by county or herd number order and so won't be delivered to an area all at the same time. I can confirm that the preprint pack has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Irish Sign Language (9 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 came into effect on 23rd December 2020 and imposes certain obligations on public bodies, including my Department and its agencies. In particular, section 6 of the Act places a duty on public bodies to provide access to public services or statutory entitlements through Irish Sign Language (ISL) when requested through the provision of free ISL...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Artificial Intelligence (9 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The information sought by the Deputy is an operational matter for the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the State Bodies and have requested that a response issue within 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Marine Institute (9 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department considers applications for aquaculture and foreshore licences in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997 as amended, the Foreshore Act 1933 (as amended) and applicable national and EU legislation. The licensing process involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisers as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Legislative Measures (9 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021 which is a Private Members Bill lapsed with the dissolution of the Dáil last November. When the Bill was proceeding through the Seanad my Department raised some concerns in relation to imposing a statutory ban on the importation of non-native honey bees as it could constitute a restriction on trade under EU Regulations. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The table below provides details on the numbers of technical grades that retired/transferred out from the Agricultural Environmental Schemes Division in 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025 as requested by the Deputy. Technical Grades Retired/Transferred out Agricultural Environmental Schemes Division Grade 2022 ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department is committed to ensuring that a skilled and motivated workforce is in place to meet its priority business needs. Workforce planning processes are utilised to identify our requirements across all technical grade streams and locations, and to ensure a long-term, proactive and strategic plan through which current and future staffing needs are addressed. Overall staffing levels...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Policies (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I am aware of the incident and my Department is liaising with National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) in relation to this matter. It would not be appropriate to comment further on the individual case. My Department operates a confidential animal welfare helpline and email through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect. The Helpline number and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Data (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The information requested by the Deputy is set out below.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The contract for delivering Equine National Breeding Services (NBS) on behalf of my Department was awarded to Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) following a competitive public procurement competition. The programme of measures delivered by HSI under the NBS includes a 'Breeding Grant' scheme. The delivery of measures funded under the 'Breeding Grant' scheme is a matter for the HSI. I understand...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: A zebra is an animal of the equine species and is therefore required to comply with all of the EU equine identification and health certification requirements applicable to other equines such as horses and donkeys. There are several species and sub species of zebra. Depending on the species of wild animal involved, The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wind Fauna and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department takes the matter of animal welfare most seriously and responds to any reports of alleged animal cruelty or legislative non-compliance. Neglect of or causing unnecessary suffering to animals is not acceptable in our society. I am committed to the policy that animal welfare standards are vigorously applied in a fair and even-handed manner. The welfare of equines is protected by...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department takes the matter of equine welfare most seriously. The welfare of equines is protected by legislation and there is a commitment in the Programme for Government to prioritise equine welfare and to build on existing inspectorate supports across the country, ensuring a consistent approach to dealing with horse welfare. My Department and authorised officers appointed under the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department takes the matter of animal welfare most seriously and responds to any reports of alleged animal cruelty or legislative non-compliance. Neglect of or causing unnecessary suffering to animals is not acceptable in our society. I am committed to the policy that animal welfare standards are vigorously applied in a fair and even-handed manner. The welfare of equines is protected...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Projects (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The information requested by the Deputy is being collated by my Department and a response will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (8 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I recently launched the National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme which will support farmers rearing progeny from the dairy herd. The scheme to be implemented in 2025 has a budget of € 4 million and will provide farmers with a €20 payment per eligible calf subject to certain conditions. The scheme is currently open for applications and I would encourage all farmers to consider...