Results 141-160 of 4,291 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Select Committee on Agriculture and Food: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Further Revised) (18 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: It was announced in the most recent budget that the beef welfare scheme would increase by €25 per animal. The sheep improvement scheme was increased by €5.

Select Committee on Agriculture and Food: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Further Revised) (18 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: It is for this year. That is the plan. Obviously, I have to manage the budget I have there.

Select Committee on Agriculture and Food: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Further Revised) (18 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: That is up €5.

Select Committee on Agriculture and Food: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Further Revised) (18 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: To make a quick point in response, it is not just about the money. The conditionality around drawing it down has put some farmers off, particularly farmers who are part-time farming. I discussed this previously. Part of this feeds into the renegotiation of the next CAP and delivering proper simplification.

Select Committee on Agriculture and Food: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Further Revised) (18 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: No, it is. I am just saying it is not just about-----

Select Committee on Agriculture and Food: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Further Revised) (18 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: I am answering the Deputy's point.

Select Committee on Agriculture and Food: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Further Revised) (18 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: Farmers are voting with their feet on money, Deputy Aird.

Select Committee on Agriculture and Food: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Further Revised) (18 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: It is not just about the money; it is about the conditionality to achieve that money. It is not about giving them more money if there is more conditionality linked to it. That is the challenge under the current structure.

Select Committee on Agriculture and Food: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Further Revised) (18 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: For the tillage sector, I paid out €32 million earlier this year. There was only €30 million allocated for that. The straw incorporation measure has been greatly oversubscribed and there were more than €15 million of applications for that. I have announced that I will fully support that, even though there was only €10 million allocated for it. I want to support...

Select Committee on Agriculture and Food: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Further Revised) (18 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: What I have outlined there already-----

Select Committee on Agriculture and Food: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Further Revised) (18 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: The tillage vision group produced a report about what it wanted to do over a period of time. I have to manage all of the budget open to me at present. I am aware of the challenges the tillage sector faces. I have outlined some of the key expenditure-----

Select Committee on Agriculture and Food: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Further Revised) (18 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: -----this year, including the straw incorporation measure. I only had €10 million for it and I committed to paying more than €15 million to 100% fund that.

Select Committee on Agriculture and Food: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Further Revised) (18 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: If you put €32 million with €15 million-----

Select Committee on Agriculture and Food: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Further Revised) (18 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: You are getting there.

Select Committee on Agriculture and Food: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Further Revised) (18 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: Absolutely. We are down to 2,961 farmers from 2024 whose payments are outstanding. We are making good progress with them. We cleared 1,700 last week. I expect to clear a very significant figure again this week and see progress over the next two weeks. We will make very good progress in June. I will not rest until the last case is sorted.

Select Committee on Agriculture and Food: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Further Revised) (18 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: We allocated €2.5 million to farm safety last year. I was very proud to establish that fund as the first Minister of State with responsibility for farm safety. We also included farm safety as part of TAMS at a 60% rate, which has seen a huge amount of pick-up. There have been really significant investments around animal handling facilities, and beyond, that are really important. I...

Select Committee on Agriculture and Food: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Further Revised) (18 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: I am happy to work on it with the Cathaoirleach.

Select Committee on Agriculture and Food: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Further Revised) (18 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: We will do a root-and-branch of review every element of TB, including the funding side. Wherever I can find money, I am absolutely looking for it. I remind the Chair that meat which is contaminated with TB does not go into the food chain.

Select Committee on Agriculture and Food: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Further Revised) (18 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: Yes, we have had responsibility for it since 1 June. That is why there is an extra budgetary allowance.

Select Committee on Agriculture and Food: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Further Revised) (18 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: I welcome this opportunity to present to the committee the Further Revised Estimates for 2025 for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Before I commence, I would like to take the opportunity to highlight the importance of farmers, fishers and foresters to the rural and coastal communities across Ireland and how they contribute to the agrifood industry and the Irish economy as...