Results 3,841-3,860 of 4,382 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Programmes (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: European Innovation Partnership projects (EIPs) are locally led, innovative projects developed by Operational Groups acting collaboratively to develop innovative solutions to address challenges and put research into practice on farms. As part of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027, an open call for proposals for EIP projects on the overall theme of Environmental Sustainability was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Energy Policy (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: Overall national energy policy formation is the direct responsibility of my colleague Minister Darragh O’Brien in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC). My Department works closely with DECC on energy related matters from an agricultural perspective, as well with a wide range of industry and other stakeholder groupings. The importance of increasing...

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

Martin Heydon: I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this important topic. Farm safety, health and wellbeing is a priority for this Government. There is a specific focus in the Programme for Government on farmer mental health and wellbeing, recognising the unique challenges faced by the sector. Through dedicated funding of €2.5 million, my Department is continuing to implement...

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

Martin Heydon: An important pillar of Government policy is to ensure that the greyhound racing industry achieves its maximum potential, and in so doing, contributes to economic and social development over a wide geographic distribution. The greyhound racing industry receives financial support from the State through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The EPA published Ireland's Final Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990-2023 report in April 2025. The report sets out that total Green House Gas emissions from the Agricultural sector in Ireland in 2023 was 20.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents. This represents a year-on-year decrease of 4.9% on 2022 of Green House Gas emissions from the sector. The most significant drivers of this...

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

Martin Heydon: The proposals for CAP simplification were published last week (14 May) by Commissioner Hansen. I welcome any proposals that will simplify and reduce the administrative burden for farmers and for national administrations. However, as with any new legislation, we will need to carefully examine the details of the proposals,and evaluate the potential impact for Ireland. It is worth...

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

Martin Heydon: ACRES is the flagship environmental scheme provided under the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan, with €1.5 billion in Exchequer and EU funding allocated over the course of the scheme. Payments in respect of farmers' participation in the ACRES Scheme continue to issue on a weekly basis as cases pass all required validation checks. Last week, I announced that Balancing payments in...

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

Martin Heydon: Bovine TB is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. In recent years, bTB levels have continued to deteriorate, herd incidence has increased from 4.31% in 2022 to 6.04% in 2024, which is a 36% increase in the number of herds restricted between 2022 and 2024. As of 11 May 2025, over a 12 month period we had a herd incidence of 6.3% with over 42,200 reactors. This disease is having an...

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

Martin Heydon: The Solar Capital Investment Scheme is a measure under the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3), which provides support to farmers wishing to invest in renewable energy. The scheme has proved to be extremely popular since its launch on 22 February 2023. Approvals have issued for applications in Tranches 1-5 of the scheme, with approvals for Tranche 6 expected to issue shortly....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ports Policy (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: At present, Cork Port is designated a Border Control Post (BCP) for container shipments of wood and wood products only. The Port of Cork Company submitted a business case to my Department in October 2022 requesting approval for a full Border Control Post at the Port of Cork. Much of the benefit expected would accrue to the fruit, vegetable and organic sector. My Department considered...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ports Policy (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: Member States are required to perform official controls on live animals, plants, plant products and products of animal origin as required under the European Official Controls Regulation 625/2017. There are four designated BCPs in Ireland, located at Dublin Port, Dublin Airport, Rosslare Europort and Shannon Airport. The designation of BCPs must be approved by the EU Commission and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Official Engagements (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I can confirm that I spoke via video conference call with my UK counterpart, Secretary of State, Steve Reed earlier this year. Our conversation was constructive, and covered topics including trade, bio-security and the importance of collaboration between our Departments on matters of mutual interest. We committed to engaging in the future to maintain and develop the strong relationship...

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

Martin Heydon: The main Global body of research on developing a vaccine for tuberculosis in bovine animals is being carried out by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in the UK. My Department continues to engage with colleagues in DEFRA and is monitoring this very closely. To date the biggest issue with a vaccine for cattle has been the lack of availability of a test that is...

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

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 720 and 721 together. The bTB eradication program is approved as an official category B disease under the EU Animal Health Law. Under this legislation, there are two officially recognised tests to detect infected cattle, which are the tuberculin skin test and the gamma interferon blood test. The tuberculin skin test is carried out by approved private...

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

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 722 and 725 together. Bovine TB is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. In recent years, bTB levels have continued to deteriorate. Our bTB Incidence rate in 2015 was 3.37% compared to 6.04% in 2024. As of 11 May 2025, over a 12 month period we had a herd incidence of 6.30% with over 42,200 reactors. I am committed to making real progress in...

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

Martin Heydon: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested. My Department is committed to ensuring that a skilled and motivated workforce is in place to meet its priority business needs. To achieve this, workforce planning is utilised in identifying and addressing the needs for all our locations. All critical staffing vacancies are filled as soon as...

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

Martin Heydon: It is readily feasible to apportion the cost of vaccinating or culling an individual badger. The expenditure on services and supplies supports the overall Badger Capture and Vaccination programme and cannot be apportioned between the capture and vaccination projects. There are fixed costs and variable costs in relation to the wildlife programme. which vary from year to year depending on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 726 and 727 together. We are continuing to pay annual premiums on the basis of the original contracts in wind blow cases. My Department is also currently considering the introduction of a Reconstitution Scheme to help these forest owners to replant. I want to reassure affected forest owners that they will not be disadvantaged by undertaking clearance or...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 728 and 729 together. I recognise that storms Darragh and Éowyn have caused significant damage to forests around the country, with over 25,000 hectares windblown - the equivalent of two and a half years harvest. This presents an enormous challenge to all stakeholders in forestry. Over 11,000 hectares of private forests have been blown down. Most of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Budgets (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: As part of Budget 2025 my Department secured an allocation of €5 million for 2025 to provide support to the group of farmers commonly referred to as forgotten farmers. A first step in this process was to launch the online survey to assist in determining the number of farmers who meet the long-standing criteria for forgotten farmers. This scheme will be called the scheme to support...