Results 3,501-3,520 of 3,729 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I can confirm that over €441 million has been paid to date to participants in the ACRES Scheme. A total of €248 million has been paid to 43,032 participants, or 96% of all ACRES participants, in respect of their participation in the Scheme in 2023. Of the 1,876 farmers that have yet to receive their final payments for 2023,1,582 have received an interim payment of either...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: This Government is prioritising farm safety, health and wellbeing through the appointment of a Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae T.D. with specific responsibility for the area and a Programme for Government that includes a specific focus on farm safety, mental health and well-being. Dedicated funding of €2.5 million was secured in Budget 2025 to build on previous efforts to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The person named was accepted into ACRES General Tranche 1, with a contract commencement date of January 1st 2023. An interim payment of €4,000 issued to the herd owner in February 2024 in respect of their participation in the Scheme in 2023. This case was delayed due to an inspection related issue which has now been resolved. The balance 2023 claim is expected to be finalised...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticulture Sector (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027 sets down a clear vision to grow a more profitable, value-added sector, driven by innovation and sustainability and provides a road map for sector to achieve this potential. The strategic ambition for the strawberry sector is to 'profitably and sustainably grow and promote Irish strawberries, by modernising production systems that maximise...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Weather Events (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Government has included a commitment in the Programme for Government “Securing our Future” to develop an Extreme Weather Event Assistance Scheme for homes, community organisations, farmers and businesses. My Department will participate fully in the development of the scheme to successfully deliver on this commitment.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Breeding (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: An important pillar of Government policy is to support the development of the sport horse sector and enhance the breeding and marketing of Irish sport horses. My Department and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM) via Sport Ireland (SI) provide public funds to the sport horse industry to assist them meet these objectives. My Department provides...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The welfare of equines is protected by legislation and appropriate enforcement action is undertaken by my Department and authorised officers under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, including An Garda Síochána, Customs agents, authorised officers appointed by local authorities, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) and the Dublin Society for the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: For a geographical indication to be registered, an application must follow the procedures set out in the relevant EU regulations, with steps at both at national and European level. At the national level, my Department is responsible for examining applications to ensure that they meet the conditions of the relevant EU regulations. My Department has had extensive engagement with the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Breeding (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: An important pillar of Government policy is to support the development of the sport horse sector and enhance the breeding and marketing of Irish sport horses. My Department and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM) via Sport Ireland (SI) provide public funds to the sport horse industry to assist them meet these objectives. My Department provides...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 234 and 235 together. The trade in and the export of animals is a private commercial activity, but it is heavily regulated by my Department in accordance with European and Irish national law. At the time of movement, my Department carries out official controls on the animals to be traded within the EU or to be exported to third countries to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Meetings (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: There was a meeting between Ministers and Members of the Management Board on 30 January 2025. Ministers, their advisors, Management Board members and Private Secretaries attended.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Industry (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: Aquaculture offers an environmentally sustainable way of producing high quality, high protein foods. Applications for aquaculture licences for the cultivation of finfish are considered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and (in the case of marine aquaculture) the 1933 Foreshore Act. The licensing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Industry (2 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: Ireland has been to the forefront in protecting the vulnerable Sea Bass stock for many years with a complete prohibition on commercial fishing in place since 1990. In addition, EU vessels are prohibited from fishing for Sea Bass in Irish waters of Area 7 (the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and waters of the south-west and west coast). Recreational fisheries are also strictly controlled with only...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (9 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 212 together. In March of this year, I, along with Minister of State Timmy Dooley, announced details of €27.75 million of funding allocated for capital projects in Ireland’s publicly owned harbours through the 2025 Fishery Harbour Centre and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. This aligns with our Programme for Government...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (9 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: Under the new Forestry Programme 2023-2027, the Woodlands Creation on Public Lands Scheme is now being offered through my Department’s Afforestation Scheme as Forest Type 3 ‘Forest Creation on Public Lands’. The Afforestation Scheme 2023-2027 offers landowners, including Local Authorities a choice of 12 Forest Types which cover a broad range of planting options. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (9 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217, 214, 215 and 216 together. 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. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (9 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department annually prepares and posts an application pack to all farmers who applied for BISS in the previous year. Printing and dispatch of the these packs is currently ongoing with the last batch of packs to be posted next week. The packs are not printed by county or herd number order and so won't be delivered to an area all at the same time. I can confirm that the preprint pack has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Irish Sign Language (9 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 came into effect on 23rd December 2020 and imposes certain obligations on public bodies, including my Department and its agencies. In particular, section 6 of the Act places a duty on public bodies to provide access to public services or statutory entitlements through Irish Sign Language (ISL) when requested through the provision of free ISL...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Artificial Intelligence (9 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The information sought by the Deputy is an operational matter for the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the State Bodies and have requested that a response issue within 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Marine Institute (9 Apr 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 legislation...