Results 4,561-4,580 of 4,911 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Directives (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: As outlined previously, at the Nitrates Committee meeting last December, my officials advised that in accordance with the Nitrates Directive, Ireland wished to apply for permission to continue applying in excess of 170 kg of livestock manure Nitrogen per hectare from 2026, subject to a set of conditions that will ensure that application is scientifically justified and will continue to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Capital Expenditure Programme (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: On 16 July 2025, the EU Commission launched its proposals for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) for the period 2028 to 2034.  The CAP is central to the EU’s success in ensuring food security, supporting farm incomes and developing rural areas; and it  remains critical to the Irish agri-food...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Weather Events (8 Sep 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, and of course local effects can vary significantly 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: As the Deputy will be aware, the Agriculture Appeals (Amendment) Act 2024, which was signed into law on 29th October 2024, provides for the establishment of an independent Agriculture Appeals Review Panel to conduct reviews of decisions of Appeals Officers based on errors of fact and/or law.  This function is currently carried out by the Director of Agriculture Appeals in accordance with...

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

Martin Heydon: At this point in time over 99% of participants have had their 2023 payments finalised. Over 98% of participants have now received their 2024 advance payment which is worth 85% of the total payment for 2024. Finally almost 97% have also received the remainder of their 2024 payments which issue in the balancing payments. The issuing of payments has gathered considerable momentum this year...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Projects (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Alternative products, containing the EU-approved active substances carfentrazone-ethyl or pyraflufen-ethyl, are currently authorised in Ireland by my Department for use as potato crop desiccants. Teagasc advises that these products can be used effectively in many cases as part of an integrated pest management approach. This approach may involve measures such as seed manipulation prior to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Data (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The following table set out the data requested by the Deputy: Year Non-EU Imports EU Imports 2023 33.6% 66.4% 2024 52.2% 47.8% 2025 (to date) 40.1% 59.9% It should be noted that a significant proportion of fertiliser imported into Ireland from other Member...

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

Martin Heydon: My Department has published the reports of procurement-related payments of purchase orders over €20,000 for Quarter 1 and 2 of 2025. These reports, along with prior years reports are available on the Department's website at www.agriculture.gov.ie under the Contracts Awarded link in the Freedom of Information (FOI) section. The Quarter 3 report will be published in Quarter 4 of 2025.

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

Martin Heydon: The reports have now been published in .xls (excel) format as requested. They are available on the Department's website at www.agriculture.gov.ie under the Contracts Awarded link in the Freedom of Information (FOI) section.. Future reports will also be published on my Department’s website in this format on a quarterly basis.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The budgetary process for 2026 is still underway. I am therefore not in a position to give any specific details in relation to Budget 2026 at this time. My Department has committed €550,000 in research funding for the SPRINGWOOL project: “Spring Wool - removing bottlenecks and providing a springboard for innovation in the Irish Grown Wool sector". This research project...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Animal welfare is a key priority for my Department and considerable funding is provided to support eligible animal welfare charities nationwide, through the annual Animal Welfare Grant Programme, which is administered by my Department. The purpose of the Animal Welfare grants programme, is to provide funding to registered animal welfare charities in Ireland that are engaged in the rescue,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The new Programme for Government prioritises “supporting inter-generational farm succession”. Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the agri-food sector, states that generational renewal in farming is critically important to ensure the future viability and social sustainability of the Irish agri-food sector and of rural Ireland. There are a number of supports for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I would like to take this opportunity to extend my condolences to the family in question. Following further examination of this case, my Department has identified that the herdowner named passed away before an ACRES application had been formally submitted. In effect, no application was received to participate in the Scheme.

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

Martin Heydon: Listed in the table below are the food products, plant products or any other products which were seized by the officials of my Department at ports of entry to the State during 2024 and, to date in 2025. My Department does not have access to data on the value of the goods seized. Port of Entry Category Type Weight (kg) Rosslare ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The person named was accepted into Tranche 1 of the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) with a start date of 1st January 2023 and is up to date with payments. The ACRES contract value for the herd owner has been calculated at €4,173.78. However, a conditionality penalty of €208.68 was applied. The difference of €173.78 between the contract value and the...

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

Martin Heydon: Animal welfare is a key priority for me, as Minister, and for the Government. The Animal Welfare Grants Programme, administered by my Department, provides considerable financial supports to eligible animal welfare charities engaged in the rescue, rehoming and rehabilitation of animals. In November 2024, funding of almost €6 million was provided to 101 animal welfare charities, through...

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

Martin Heydon: My Department provides considerable support for animal welfare charities through the Animal Welfare Grants Programme, to assist them in their vital work in rescuing and rehoming animals. In November 2024, funding of almost €6 million was provided to 101 animal welfare charities nationwide. My Department does not maintain a register regarding all animal sanctuaries operating in Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The application window for the scheme to support Long Established Young Farmers, more commonly referred to as forgotten farmers, has closed. The scheme was widely flagged in the farming media and was open for just over 3 weeks from July to receive applications. During that period my Department also issued text message reminders to potential applicants whose applications were still in draft....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Programme for Government is clear, whereby it includes a commitment to “work with like-minded EU countries to stand up for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal”. Irish and EU farmers are subject to complex regulations requiring them to farm in a sustainable manner, which is why it is difficult to explain to them why...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The tillage sector is an integral part of Irish farming and makes a significant contribution to overall agricultural output. It is recognised as a very low greenhouse gas emitting sector when compared to other agricultural sectors. This Government recognises the importance of the sector and wants to grow the area under tillage crops. The report of the Food Vision Tillage Group, which...