Results 3,121-3,140 of 3,729 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (19 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) announced in April 2024 that it had updated its Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Practitioners to prohibit veterinarians from carrying out surgical artificial insemination in dogs due to ethical and welfare considerations. However, this new prohibition does not apply to greyhounds, as the practice is provided for in legislation under the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (19 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: 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. RCÉ has informed my Department that the stakeholder...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (19 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the organisation charged with the role of Keeper of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book (IGSB) since 1923. The Stud Book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership of all greyhounds. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann. The ICC has informed my Department that the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Flexible Work Practices (19 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: As required under the Blended Working Policy Framework for Civil Service Organisations, my Department implemented its own Blended Working Policy in 2022 to facilitate a mix of remote working and attendance in the workplace, within a formalised structure that supports the business needs of the Department. My Department is committed to embracing opportunities for remote and blended working,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Livestock Issues (19 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: As part of its remit, Teagasc routinely hosts international scientific conferences to bring together the latest science available on a particular topic and to facilitate discussion around that science. In October 2022, Teagasc hosted, and was one of the organisers of, an international summit on the societal role of meat. An outcome of the event was that summit attendees with academic...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (20 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the organisation charged with the role of Keeper of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book (IGSB) since 1923. The Stud Book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership of all greyhounds. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann. The ICC has informed my Department that the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (20 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: A key focus of Food Vision 2030, the strategic framework for the development of Ireland's agri-food sector, is to grow the value of our agri-food exports on international markets. Food Vision identifies a number of actions targeted at realising this value growth ambition. These actions include new market diversification and promotion activities. My Department works closely with Bord Bia...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (20 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department takes the threat of avian influenza seriously. My officials are monitoring the situation regarding avian influenza in Northern Ireland and continuously engaging with stakeholders in the poultry sector and also with colleagues in Northern Ireland on this issue. Strict biosecurity is the most effective tool to protect poultry against avian influenza. This is why the Government...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (20 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: The trade in and the export of animals is a private commercial activity, but it is heavily regulated by European and National law which my Department enforces. In order for a dedicated livestock vessel to operate out of Ireland it must be approved by my Department in accordance with the provisions of Statutory Instrument (S.I.) No. 356/2016 - Carriage of Livestock by Sea Regulations 2016....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: As part of Budget 2025 my Department secured an allocation of €5 million for 2025 to support the group of farmers commonly referred to as forgotten farmers. Work is ongoing to address a number of remaining issues, before the details of the eligibility requirements and benefits to successful applicants under any scheme can be finalised. I am committed to delivering for these...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: ACRES is the first scheme of its kind to upscale results-based payments to a national level. This is a significant change in implementing such an innovative and ambitious scheme, but it has come with complexities and challenges. There is significant work involved in the verification of payment claims, and in the calculation and issuing of payments to over 54,000 participants from all...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Artificial Intelligence (20 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department has taken advice in respect of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Department during the development of the artificial intelligence policy, from the following organisations.The Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council.Gartner Ireland Limited Research and Consultancy Service.CeADAR the National Centre for AI and the European Digital Innovation Hub for AI in Ireland. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Veterinary Services (20 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: Officials of my Department have conducted 412 animal welfare transport inspections on equine export trucks in the last six months of 2024, and 54 to date in 2025. The animal welfare transport inspections are conducted in both Rosslare Europort and Dublin Port on both EU and non-EU destined equine transporters. Microchip identity checks at the ports of departure by either Department officials...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. To reassure her, the Government cannot be any clearer on our position in relation to the Mercosur proposals. We clearly outlined it in our programme for Government. In two-and-a-half hours of debate here in the Dáil last Thursday, I discussed it at length and put clearly on the record of this House our concerns and our opposition to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Weather Events (25 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) currently provides grant aid for investment in new structures rather than repair of existing structures. The main reason for this approach is that the state of the structure is unknown, which may lead to further issues associated with grant aiding repair work on existing farm sheds. Any proposed work would require sign-off by a structural...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pesticide Use (25 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: Pesticide active substances contained in plant protection products (PPPs) are approved centrally at EU level based on detailed scientific assessments prepared by Member State authorities and a rigorous peer review process managed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). New PPPs containing EU-approved active substances are subsequently authorised, or not, nationally, in accordance...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pesticide Use (25 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department implements an integrated scheduling system for applicants seeking authorisation to place plant protection products (pesticides and biocides) on the Irish market. This work includes processing and technical evaluation of applications for authorisation of new products and applications for re-authorisation of existing products. Department officials liaise closely with each...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Felling Licence application in this case was received by my Department in September 2024.This was ‘screened-in’ for Appropriate Assessment in accordance in with the Habitats Directive. Screened-in applications are required to do a 2nd stage public consultation. This application is currently undergoing its 2nd public consultation. The last date for submissions to be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Payments (25 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department together with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications co-published an agri centric National Biomethane Strategy in May of 2024. This was Ireland’s first major policy statement on biomethane and is an important milestone in the development of an indigenous sector. As committed to under the Strategy, my Department opened the first capital grant...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Payments (25 Feb 2025)

Martin Heydon: It is not possible to calculate the value of payments that have not yet issued for the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES). As the Deputy may be aware, results based scoring is included within ACRES. Until these scores are converted to a monetary value within the payment system and other factors taken into account, such as changes to parcels, it is not possible to determine the...