Results 3,001-3,020 of 3,729 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Council (5 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: I attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting in Brussels on 27 January 2025. I was pleased to have an early opportunity to meet with several of my fellow Ministers and also with the new EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, who visited Ireland recently. The Council held discussions on strengthening the position of the farmer in the food supply chain, CAP simplification,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Weather Events (5 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: Backup PTO generators are available for grant aid under the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3). Farmers may apply for these generators under the Dairy Equipment Scheme (DES), Organic Capital Investment Scheme (OCIS), Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme (YFCIS) and Women Farmers Capital Investment Scheme (WFCIS). While backup PTO generators are included as an...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (5 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application for the herd owner referred to by the Deputy was submitted late, by the herd owner, on 8 November 2024. A BISS Late Application Penalty Letter issued on 12 November 2024. The herd owner has since submitted an appeal and supplied supporting documentation. The appeal and supporting documentation is currently being considered...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Staff (5 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: Ministerial advisers are appointed by the Government in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Management Act 1997. The current grade for Senior Ministerial Advisers, including Advisers to Ministers of State who attend Cabinet, is aligned to the Civil Service Principal Officer salary scale. The current grade for Advisers to Ministers of State is aligned to the Civil Service...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Contracts (5 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: In response to the Deputy’s question please see details below of private companies contracted to provide cleaning services and security officer roles to offices in my Department. Service Provided Value and Length of contract Cleaning Services (Dublin locations) €5,000,000 over 4 years Cleaning Services (Regional...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (5 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: In answer to the Deputy’s question, the total number of Services staff and Cleaners currently employed by my Department is 31, details of which are broken down in the following table. All services staff and cleaners are directly employed by my Department on permanent contracts. Title Number Service Officer 26 Service...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Official Travel (5 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: I set out the details as requested by the Deputy. Minister Hackett Mileage claims: Date From Date To Claim Total € 01/01/2023 31/12/2023 8,583.42 01/01/2024 31/12/2024 N/A Minister Hackett’s Civilian Drivers Overnights claims: Date From Date To ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (5 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: Further to the recent announcements in relation to Government formation, my Department is restructuring to reflect the allocation of functions to Ministers. The staffing arrangements within the Ministerial Offices will be implemented in line with Government guidelines. Additional information will become available in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety (5 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: Farm safety is a critical issue and farming continues to be the most dangerous occupation with regard to fatalities in the workplace. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA), under the auspices of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, has statutory responsibility for health and safety in the workplace, including safety requirements such as the ‘Safe Pass’ safety...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Strategies (5 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: Food Vision 2030, Ireland’s stakeholder-led strategy for the agri-food sector, aims for Ireland to be “A World Leader in Sustainable Food Systems”. It was designed using a food systems approach, recognising the requirement to have greater policy coherence across agriculture, food, and the environment. Food Vision has four high-level Missions: Mission 1: A Climate Smart,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (5 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department recognises that wind events, such as the recent storms Darragh and Éowyn, can cause varying degrees of damage around the country, including damage to trees. In advance of Storm Éowyn, a guidance document ‘Windblow and Storm damage Guidance for Forest Owners’ was updated and published on our website. In light of the significant damage caused by Storm...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: An Garda Síochána (5 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department strongly condemns any cruelty or mistreatment of animals and takes matters of equine welfare and the integrity of the food chain very seriously. Collaboratively with the Garda National Bureau of Crime Investigation, my Department is undertaking an extensive investigation. This joint investigation is ongoing and relates to suspected breaches of animal welfare and animal...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Issues (5 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department has no plans to introduce supports for the purchase of land. The position has not changed regarding measures to place restrictions on the sale of land. As previously stated, issues relating to the ownership of private property are subject to very significant and complex legal, constitutional and policy considerations. Any statutory limitations on the sale of farmland would...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (5 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: I recognise the importance of Irish nationals on the staff of EU Institutions, and my Department encourages people to seek opportunities which will improve Ireland’s representation among EU staff. Implementation of the strategy is ongoing and includes a strong focus on raising awareness of EU careers paths for graduates, support opportunities for SNEs and provision of training for...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Agriculture Schemes (6 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh for raising a really important issue. I thank her for her good wishes at the start. This is a topic that is a real bugbear for farmers. If they are caught in this, the frustration is palpable. I will go through the detail on this in a minute. Before I do so, I want to respond to the Deputy's point about the frustration with the overall scheme, especially the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Agriculture Schemes (6 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Deputy has raised a number of different issues. I have been over in the west of Ireland meeting a number of farmers affected by the storm. Many of the farmers we are discussing in terms of ACRES have been impacted by the storm in a range of ways. We stand ready to support them. Initially, we are getting their power and water back but I am conscious that this debate was about ACRES and...

Programme for Government: Statements (6 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: I too welcome Kevin and say céad míle fáilte. He is very welcome and I hope he will enjoy his visit. I also acknowledge Tony and his years of public service to the State, both here in the Oireachtas and in An Garda Síochána before that. Public service takes many different forms. We thank him very much for his contribution to the State and wish him and his family a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Infectious Diseases (6 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department has not received any reports regarding the issue referred to at Dublin Zoo in 2024.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Artificial Intelligence (6 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department has funded the following Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects in the past fiscal year: 2024 Funding:In respect of Cognitive Services, €2,888 was spent over the course of 2024, researching potential artificial intelligence benefits for my Department.Related Cloud Infrastructure, to support those services, totalled €2,805 in the same period. 2025 Funding: No new...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Freedom of Information (6 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: Coillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and, as such, its day-to-day operations, such as the payment of external legal fees, are entirely a matter for the company. I have accordingly asked Coillte to respond directly to the Deputy on the matters raised.