Results 4,421-4,440 of 4,472 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (8 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: This Government is delivering on its commitment in the Programme for Government to continue to prioritise improvements in farm safety, health and wellbeing through strengthened supports, with a specific focus on farmer mental health and wellbeing. I secured dedicated funding of €2.5 million in Budget 2025 to enable my Department to deliver a range of initiatives, including...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (8 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (8 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department has lead policy responsibility within government for animal welfare and takes the matter of animal welfare most seriously. I am committed to the policy that animal welfare standards are vigorously applied in a fair and even-handed manner. In 2021, my Department launched the Animal Welfare Strategy (2021-2025), which created a framework for engagement and collaboration with...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (8 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: Under the Control of Horses Act 1996, local authorities may take a range of actions in relation to equines including prohibiting horses in certain areas, the issuing of licences and the seizure of horses in contravention of the Act. These powers can be used in respect of straying horses, which includes horses put on land without the owner’s permission, including public land. My...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Statutory Instruments (8 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Statutory Instrument mentioned in response to Parliamentary Question No. 762 of 8 April 2025 to allow sharing of data between third party agri-loan providers and my Department has been finalised. S.I. No. 120/2025 - European Union (de minimis aid in the agriculture sector) Regulations 2025, was signed into law on 4 April, 2025, and notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (10 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The herd owner in this matter was subject to a Local Authority Inspection, by Leitrim County Council, on 30th January 2025, following which a cross report was submitted to my Department. The result of this inspection was communicated by Formal Notice to the herd owner on 10th June 2025, by my Department’s local District Superintendent for Leitrim. The following non compliances were...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Industry (10 Jul 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (10 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The HR Learning and Development Division of my Department supports staff to pursue academic qualifications through the Funding of Academic Fees scheme. My Department currently operates a policy of advance payment to all staff participating in this scheme. All approved applicants under this Scheme may also be allowed paid study leave/examination leave, in line with Department of Finance...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (10 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I was very pleased to officially launch ABP's Young Farmer Academy and I welcome this support for the next generation of Irish farmers. As I said at the launch, the ABP Young Farmer Academy it is vital that young people are supported to build sustainable, resilient farm businesses that contribute positively to the economy, the environment and our rural communities. My Department has no...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Artificial Intelligence (10 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The following Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects are used within my Department for research and analysis purposes under business as usual at no additional cost unless otherwise indicated. AI technologies Purpose Function Associated licencing and use of AI costs Machine Learning Predicting the likelihood of TB outbreaks. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Correspondence (16 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I can confirm that my office received and responded to correspondence in relation to the persons named and a follow-up inspection was carried out. Whilst my Department cannot comment on individual cases, it is worth highlighting that legitimate late evening animal sales take place at some marts across the country with animals transported subsequently. This activity is in compliance with...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Wildlife Regulations (16 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: Wild birds such as gulls are the responsibility of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. My Department monitors the avian influenza disease situation in wild birds to inform the risks posed to poultry and captive birds. My Department's advice is that people should not pick up or touch sick, dead or dying wild birds and should keep their pets away from them. Dogs should be kept on a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Health and Safety (16 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: Human health matters in regard to avian influenza are the responsibility of the Minister for Health and the Health Service Executive. The National Parks and Wildlife Service has primary responsibility with regard to issues relating to wild birds. My Department's primary function in relation to Avian Influenza is to help protect and to control outbreaks of the disease in poultry and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Weather Events (16 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The unpredictable nature of extreme weather/flooding events, and the resulting impact on agriculture, does not lend itself to a ready-made scheme template, given that local effects vary with each event. My Department in recent years has provided a number of schemes to support farmers who have been badly affected by extreme weather/flooding. These include the Shass Landslide, the Shannon...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Meetings (17 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: ICBF was set up support improvements in breeding of the national herd to the benefit of farmers and to provide direction for national breeding policy. It is wholly owned by its shareholders, which include the farm bodies, AI and milk recording companies along with the breed societies, both dairy and beef. ICBF review and update economic values, based on latest economic models as provided by...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Generation (17 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department does not have the requested information available to it. Issues regarding planning of solar farms fall under the remit of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The rights of farmers and other landowners are, of course, subject to the usual Constitutional protections. As Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, I am committed to driving sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Data (17 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has not purchased farmland in 2023, 2024 or to date in 2025. It should be noted that the Minister can reply only for his Department, and not for other agencies or Departments.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Data (17 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: In the last number of years approximately 20 unique farm payment schemes have operated in my Department. These schemes in the main are run through offices in Portlaoise and Johnstown Castle in Wexford. A full report for 2024 is not readily available. Once the data is available my department will be in contact with the Deputy to provide the requested information.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Procurement Contracts (17 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department does not maintain a record of procurement competitions that did not result in a contract award due to insufficient submissions, legal challenges, disqualification of bidders, or internal cancellation nor has it calculated costs associated with collapsed or rerun procurement competitions.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Private Partnerships (17 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department has had no Public-Private Partnership projects since 2010.