Results 4,321-4,340 of 4,382 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 88 together. The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme or 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. There are currently just under 54,000 participants in ACRES. Payments in respect of ACRES continue to issue...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord Bia (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: Ireland is a small open trading economy and Irish dairy products are exported to around 140 countries around the world, including markets in Africa. Bord Bia is the Irish semi state agency with responsibility for the promotion of Irish food, drink and horticulture both in Ireland and in overseas markets. West Africa is a market which presents significant opportunities for Irish drinks,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: An equine premises registration number (EPRN) is required for any person keeping an equine. In order to get an EPRN, an applicant must complete and sign the form HR1, available online at my Department’s website, and return it to their regional veterinary office. An EPRN is a herd number that is only active on my Department’s system for activities relating to keeping horses or...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I recognise that storms Darragh and Éowyn have caused significant damage to forests around the country and that this presents significant challenges to stakeholders in forestry. I welcome the positive progress made by the Forestry Sector in the mobilisation of windblown material in forests. My Department is prioritising the processing of storm-related felling and road licence...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The new Programme for Government emphasises “supporting inter-generational farm succession.” Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the agri-food sector, highlights that ensuring generational renewal in farming is vital for the sector’s long-term viability and the sustainability of rural Ireland. Demographic challenges facing agriculture are not unique to Ireland;...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme or ACRES is Ireland’s national agri-environment climate measure provided under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027. The Government has committed €1.5 billion to the scheme over its duration, the largest amount ever allocated to an agri-environment scheme. There are currently some 54,000 participants, with intake approved into...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Sanctions (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: Irish Whiskey is a protected geographical indication and recognised under the European Union Quality Schemes as a quality product associated with tradition and authenticity. Geographical indications are similar to intellectual property, and these products have protection from evocation and misuse across the European Union. That means that it is not permitted for a product to claim to be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: Yesterday the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) published their Water Quality Monitoring Report on Nitrogen and Phosphorous concentrations in Irish waters 2024. This annual report provides an update on the results of water quality monitoring to support the assessment of the impact of our Nitrate’s Derogation on Irish waters. This report is prepared to meet one of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Inshore Fisheries (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy for his question and I would like to stress that this Government is fully committed to maintaining support for our important inshore fishing sector and promoting the sustainability of fish stocks, as outlined in our Programme for Government. In December 2018, a transition period to a ban on vessels over 18 metres trawling in inshore waters, inside the six nautical...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Wildlife Protection (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: Hedgerows are a valuable resource on Irish farms, contributing to both our biodiversity, water quality and climate ambitions. There is an estimated 689,000 kms of hedgerows in the country. My Department, under Food Vision 2030, has committed to a target of 10% of the farmed area to be prioritised for biodiversity. Hedgerow and buffer strip creation will play a significant role in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: Bovine TB is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. In recent years, bovine TB (bTB) levels have continued to deteriorate despite everyone's efforts. Herd incidence has increased from 4.31% in 2022 to 6.04% in 2024, resulting in a 36% increase in the number of herds restricted between 2022 and 2024. As of 22nd June 2025, over a 12 month period we had a herd incidence of 6.43 %...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: Food Vision 2030 is Ireland’s stakeholder-led agri-food strategy, developed for the sector by the sector, with a vision for Ireland as a “World Leader in Sustainable Food Systems”. Working together, all the stakeholders have committed to transform our agriculture, food, forestry, and marine sectors to achieve environmental, economic and social sustainability. Food Vision...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Strategies (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The new Programme for Government emphasises “supporting inter-generational farm succession.” Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the agri-food sector, highlights that ensuring generational renewal in farming is vital for the sector’s long-term viability and social sustainability in rural Ireland. Demographic challenges facing agriculture are not unique to Ireland;...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department is fully committed to making payments to farmers under the various schemes at the earliest date possible and to the maximum number of farmers possible. This commitment to farmers is evidenced in the very high payment rates achieved across all schemes over the last number of years in both EU and Exchequer funded schemes. At EU level, Ireland ranks amongst the most efficient...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: As part of the outcome of the EU-UK Summit on 19 May 2025, the EU and UK agreed to a 12-year extension of the current arrangements on fisheries, as set out in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which grants reciprocal access to waters. The commitment to extend the reciprocal access for EU and UK vessels to fish in each other’s waters for the next 12 years, with no change to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Projects (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Programme for Government committed to examining the feasibility of a wool scouring plant in Ireland. Two research projects are currently underway to assess sustainable approaches to wool scouring in Ireland. In 2024, my Department announced funding of €574,683 for the SPRING WOOL research project. Among other things, this project is examining the feasibility of a mobile wool...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. Overall, the scheme has proved very popular, with an unprecedented level of applications received. Grant aid support for goat housing is available under TAMS 3. In addition, the sheep handling facilities, which are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 109 together. A number of steps have been taken by my Department to support Irish wool and to develop new markets, one of which was an in-depth study of the Irish wool market called Review Of Market Opportunities For Irish-Grown Wool Based Products, which was published in 2022. Following publication of the report, my Department allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 124 together. The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. The Solar Capital Investment Scheme (SCIS), which is a measure under TAMS 3, has proved extremely popular with 3,741 applications received across the first...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The new Forestry Strategy for Ireland, which was published in September 2023 is committed to the right trees in the right places for the right reasons and with the right management. The current €1.3 billion funded Forestry Programme 2023-2027 is key to the implementation of this strategy. The annual broadleaf target for this Forestry Programme has increased from 30% to 50% of...