Results 4,241-4,260 of 4,382 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Projects (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: The responsibility for the development and maintenance of local authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each local authority in the first instance. The primary governance role for local authorities rests with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. However, my Department has provided funding to assist coastal local authorities in carrying out projects for the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Industry (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for HRI, and has therefore been referred to that body for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Reports (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has not actively 'unpublished' any relevant documents, reports, strategies, or resources over the past 10 years, notwithstanding any temporary, technical matter that would impact on website access, which is resolved as soon as possible. I am wholly committed to open publication of government information. My Department shares various...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: As per section 10 of the scheme terms and conditions, Registered Farm Partnerships (RFPs) are eligible to participate in ACRES subject to certain provisions as outlined. Payments have issued to RFPs and will continue to do so over the remainder of the scheme. Having said this, issues have arisen in certain circumstances where a change of contract is taking place. The process of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl, under statute. Every year, my Department allocates funding under the Fishery Harbour Centre and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, which contains details of the capital projects planned for each...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Projects (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl, under statute. Every year, my Department allocates funding under the Fishery Harbour Centre and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, which includes details of the capital projects planned for each...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 693 and 694 together. Under the 2014-2020 Forestry Programme, a pure Oak plantation approved under the relevant Grant and Premium Category at the time cannot be changed to Agroforestry. Similarly, if the Ash Dieback site has previously been reconstituted and already planted with Oak, it cannot be changed to Agroforestry. However, if the site has not yet...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Industry (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. Whilst I have not yet formally met with the CEO of HRI, I have met the CEO as part of my wider engagements with the horse racing industry and it is my intention to meet...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (24 Jun 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. Whilst I have not yet formally met with the CEO of RCÉ,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department has responsibility for foreshore licensing functions in respect of designated fishery harbour centres, activities wholly or primarily for the use, development or support of aquaculture, and activities which are wholly or primarily for the use, development, or support of wild fisheries. Applications for foreshore licences are considered in accordance with the provisions of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Water Pollution (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: There is currently an unprecedented, significant and very welcome engagement across the entire agri-food industry to drive improvements in our water quality, and the Government is playing its part too. The current Nitrates Action Programme, introduced in 2022, provides the strongest protections yet regarding water quality from an agricultural perspective. Earlier this year, the regulatory...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Reviews (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department has conducted a search of our systems and the herdowners in question do not appear to have any outstanding bovine TB or bovine brucellosis compensation payments. If the herdowners have any further information in relation to this matter they can contact their local Regional Veterinary Office for direct assistance.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: The persons named submitted an application under the ACRES General stream and were approved into Tranche 1 of the scheme, with a commencement date of 1st January 2023. An ACRES interim payment issued to the herd owners in April 2024 in the sum of €4,000. This case is progressing through validation checks and payment will issue when all such checks have been successfully passed....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (24 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: Animal welfare is a key priority for me as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and for the Government. My Department provides considerable funding to support, eligible, animal welfare charities, nationwide, through the annual Animal Welfare Grant Programme. The information requested by the Deputy is set out below, in tabular form. Donkey Sanctuary awards through the Animal...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Regional Assemblies (26 Jun 2025)

Martin Heydon: I wish to recognise the work of the Northern & Western Regional Assembly in drafting the Regional Infrastructure Priorities for the Northern and Western Region and I welcome this Report. My Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres (FHCs), under statute, two of which are located in the Northern and Western Region, namely Ros An...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Strategies (1 Jul 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. Strategy development was guided by a working group which was chaired by my Department with...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Programmes (1 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 604 and 606 together. The pilot Farm Environmental Study (FES) was introduced during the CAP transitional period with the objective of providing a baseline measurement of biodiversity on farms before the commencement of the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) in order to support the introduction of the CSP programme. Following a public procurement process, a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Policies (1 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: Pesticide active substances, such as glyphosate, contained in plant protection products are approved, or not, centrally at EU level, based on a rigorous scientific peer review process managed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Products containing EU-approved active substances are subsequently authorised, or not, nationally, in accordance with evaluation and decision-making...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (1 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: My understanding is that the local improvement scheme operated by the Department of Community and Rural Development provides for the kind of investment referred to by the Deputy. My Department does not have funding for this purpose, nor am I aware of any request from any other Government Department for such funding. I will pass the Deputy’s enquiry on to that Minister for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (1 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: To date 44,186 or 99% of those who commenced their Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme contracts in 2023 have received full payment for that year. This means that 514 participant are awaiting finalisation of their 2023 contracts. Of these, 236 have already received an interim payment of either €4,000 or €5,000, respectively. In many instances, this will cover the entire...