Results 3,421-3,440 of 3,729 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Data Protection (26 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: I wish to assure the Deputy that my Department is fully aware of its requirements under Data Protection legislation, and is continuously working towards compliance with all aspects of the GDPR and the Data Protection Act. My Department has a Data Protection Unit in place to assist in meeting its compliance requirements. It also has a Data Protection Officer to provide advice and guidance...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: The National Sheep Welfare Scheme 2024 was in operation from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024. Payments under the scheme commenced in November 2024 to cleared cases, and thus far, €15.20 million has been paid to 16,336 participants in the scheme. Additional payments will continue to issue as cases are cleared for payment, including those selected for an on-farm inspection or a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Weather Events (26 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: A number of measures have already been introduced to assist people impacted by Storm Éowyn. I announced a targeted re-opening of the 2025 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector to deal only with growers proposing investments in response to the damage caused by the Storm. This targeted re-opening responded to the call for assistance to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: The person named submitted an application under the ACRES General stream and was approved into Tranche 1 of the scheme, with a commencement date of 1st January 2023. Payments in respect of scheme year 2023 have been finalised for this case. The 2024 advance payment has not yet been made due to an issue with the claim for Rotational Actions on the contract. My Department is working to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (26 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department takes its responsibilities for protecting animal welfare most seriously and strongly condemns any cruelty or mistreatment of animals. It should be noted that we have robust legislation in this country to protect the welfare of all animals and, in the case of pigs, there is sector-specific legislation in place which is based on existing EU rules. It is my Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (27 Mar 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. I understand from HSI that it is engaging directly with scheme applicants regarding the requirement for the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Cybersecurity Policy (27 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: For operational and security reasons, the Department has been advised by the National Cyber Security Centre not to disclose details which could, in any way, identify potential vulnerabilities in departmental cybersecurity arrangements.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Cybersecurity Policy (27 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: For operational and security reasons, my Department has been advised by the National Cyber Security Centre not to disclose details which could, in any way, identify potential vulnerabilities in Departmental Cyber-security arrangements.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (27 Mar 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. The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (27 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: Following the most recent pay run, I can confirm that advance payments totalling €193.5 million have now been made to 44,939 farmers in respect of their participation in ACRES in 2024. This number represents 83% of all participants. Advance payments remain to be made to 9,316 participants across the two tranches. This means that €441 million has now been paid to ACRES...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Industry (27 Mar 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (27 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: My department is funding social farming initiatives across the country. South Kerry Development Partnership currently has a contract with my Department for a Social Farming Model project to increase participant and host farmer engagement so that the social farming opportunity is available to more people in Kerry and to offer choice to people with disabilities to engage with farm families....

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: As I rise to my feet to express confidence in the Ceann Comhairle, I reflect on 106 years of Dáil Eireann, during that time from its first sitting on 21 January 1919, with the revolutionary Irish Republic being formed with some of its Members still in prison, to 9 March 1932 when we had that first changeover of power between two parties, when reportedly some Members of this House carried...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Farm Costs (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I start my first Oral Questions as Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine by wishing Deputy O'Donoghue well in his role as agriculture spokesperson for Labour and Deputy Kenny as agriculture spokesperson for Sinn Féin. Deputy Mac Lochlainn, who has left because he has an engagement, and the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, will work on all things to do with fisheries. We look...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Farm Costs (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: As the Deputy outlined, volatility is a significant issue. The volatility in input and output costs was reflected in family farm income. Following record years for income in 2021 and 2022, incomes fell in 2023. However, estimates for 2024 and the forecast for 2025 are more positive. Teagasc estimates an average increase of 49% for 2024 - admittedly from a low base - with all sectors...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Farm Costs (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The points raised by Deputy O'Donoghue illustrate some of the other challenges we face in this sector. At its heart is the challenge relating to succession. Income is also a key issue - the income the next generation of young male and female farmers can expect to attain. It feeds into their decision as to whether they want to take on the farm or not. That is why Food Vision 2030, our...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Environmental Schemes (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Kenny and look forward to working with him in the term ahead. I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue about which there has been a lot of concern - I absolutely understand that - for farmers who are working on peat-based or carbon-rich soils. There has been an element of misinformation or misunderstanding of what the GAECs are. I am happy to have the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Environmental Schemes (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: There was extensive analysis of this by officials in my Department and engagement with farm organisations over past two years on trying to come to a solution. This is the most practical approach. It will have no direct impact on a farmer's daily activity on that land. I take issue with the statement that this will have a detrimental effect on farmers. In response to the Deputy's...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Environmental Schemes (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I agree because what is being presented is not what is reality. The Deputy used the word "designation", so I am not surprised that farmers are petrified. This is not a designation. It is a baseline requirement for applying for a single farm payment, or the basic income support for sustainability, BISS, scheme, as it is now known. Of course farmers would have concerns on that but a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Dairy Sector (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I agree. Everyone is concerned about what will happen with the tariffs from the United States and the impact they will have on our agrifood sector. America is our second biggest market. We export €2 billion worth of agrifood and drink products to there, with butter and dairy being a key component of that, the butter market alone accounting for nearly €500 million. Of the...