Results 2,621-2,640 of 3,729 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Aquaculture Industry (6 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Senator for highlighting those specific points. He makes a valid point. Notwithstanding all the timelines I outlined, he pointed to an understandable concern among local communities. If a process is taking as long to come through as the one in Kinsale to which he referred, the community would be justified in feeling frustrated. As he stated, it is important to keep the focus...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Horse Racing Industry (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Horse Racing Ireland, HRI, established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001 is a commercial State body responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. The horse and greyhound racing industries receive financial support from the State through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Horse Racing Industry (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: Smaller racecourses have gained from being aligned with the larger racecourses and this has enhanced their value. Media rights agreements are subject to approval by HRI and the 26 racecourses involved. While I take on board the points the Deputy has raised and am happy to discuss it today, racecourses also contribute an element of their sponsorship income to prize money with bigger...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Horse Racing Industry (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: I take on board the Deputy's points and I am happy to go through this in more detail in time. As I outlined in my response, 23 of the 26 tracks have benefited from capital grants for infrastructure work.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Horse Racing Industry (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: It was 40% of the capital infrastructure. There is no doubt that smaller tracks are benefiting from being part of a larger scheme. Where is the great value in terms of media rights when media organisations are looking to buy? The larger race days will attract the highest value. It makes sense that the smaller tracks, which have days that are very important to their local communities but...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Griffin for raising a really important point. I completely agree that the humanitarian crisis will always take priority in terms of our view of this matter. As the Deputy outlined, there are also significant implications, which we are seeing across all sectors, including the agrifood sector, from Russia's illegal and awful war in Ukraine. We need to take the necessary steps...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: It is important that the point raised by Deputy Griffin and its impact are discussed in the House. I should point out that there are sufficient supplies of animal feed at present and importers are actively competing on the global market to ensure that supply continues uninterrupted. Animal feed stocks and imports are being monitored on a regular basis by my Department. What Deputy Griffin...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: Regarding green diesel, the interventions the Government has made to date have seen all excise duty removed from green diesel, in line with changes to ordinary petrol and diesel excise where there have been record removals in those areas as well. The targeted measures I mentioned will help Irish farmers at a time of escalating costs and build resilience against the expected impact of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: We long for the days when Brexit was the biggest challenge we faced. It was, and continues to be, a big challenge. We have to be aware of the medium-term challenges from the fallout from Brexit, particularly in the agri-food sector. The Deputy will be aware that the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, TCA, maintained tariff-free access for all goods traded between the UK and the EU....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: I agree with Deputy Griffin that the UK will remain an important market for Irish food and drink. Since the result of the Brexit referendum, however, we have stepped up the efforts of diversification, and in my role with responsibility for new market development in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I have worked very closely with the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: Deputy Griffin can take it as a given that we will continue to work across Government to hold the British Government to the international obligations it has signed up to. I am a firm believer in controlling the things we can control, and in respect of my role in the Department, that is clearly to look at tangible efforts to ensure we have a broader diversification of the markets we export...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Agreements (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: As the Deputy will be aware, the European Union and New Zealand reached a political agreement in principle on a new free trade agreement on 30 June 2022. I take this opportunity to inform the House that since the launch of these negotiations in June 2018, Ireland consistently pressed the European Commission to ensure the outcome of these negotiations would be balanced and would take into...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Agreements (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: I outlined in my initial response the efforts that have been made and that a very close focus has been kept on this in my Department as to the impact this could have here and the need to protect the interests of farm families. The business model of our farm families in this country is very much dependent on the fact we are a small, open nation that exports 90% of the food and drink we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Agreements (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: As I outlined earlier, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is the lead Department in trade policy but it takes a very clear direction and has very close contact with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on such matters. This is an area in which we obviously have a clear insight in respect of the sensitivities that would have an impact on Irish farm families....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Jul 2022)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I also thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Discussions are ongoing at governmental level across all sectors and range over the points in respect of emissions targets. The Deputy raised a valid point, which is that farmers and our farming sector have been on a journey of transition for some time. We continue to produce our food more efficiently...

Financial Resolutions 2022 - Financial Resolution No. 6: General: Financial Resolution (Resumed) (28 Sep 2022)

Martin Heydon: Ingenuity and innovation flow throughout our agricultural sector. As our most important indigenous industry, farming and food production employ more than 160,000 people. It generates €14 billion in exports, which brings money into rural communities throughout the country. It is a sector on which the Government places a significant value, and one we want to grow and continue to...

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-----