Results 4,621-4,640 of 4,911 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Reviews (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: With reference to clarification sought regarding Question No.781 of 15th July 2025, I can confirm that the independent review is at an early stage. A decision on publication will be made, on receipt of the final report, in consultation with the herd owner and the independent reviewer.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I am informed that the herdowner's local Regional Veterinary Office is waiting for a number of items of paperwork - the ER64 Cleansing and Disinfection Form, a receipt for disinfectant, the original factory docket and the factory permit. Staff from the Regional Veterinary Office spoke with the herdowner on 17 July to confirm what is outstanding. Once the required documentation is received...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Control of Horses (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: Prompt registration of equines is very important for reasons related to animal health and the management of infectious diseases. Furthermore, equines that are registered late are automatically deemed ineligible for human consumption. This status can have a negative impact on an equine's welfare at the end of its life as it can mean a higher probability of neglect or abandonment. For...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Control of Horses (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department takes the matter of equine welfare most seriously. The welfare of equines is protected by legislation and there is a commitment in the Programme for Government to prioritise equine welfare and to build on existing inspectorate supports across the country, ensuring a consistent approach to dealing with horse welfare. My Department and authorised officers appointed under the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Legal Cases (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2171, 2172, 2173, 2174 and 2175 together. Litigation is dealt with on behalf of the Department by the Attorney General’s Office, the Chief State Solicitor’s Office or the State Claims Agency who engage lawyers to act for my Department where necessary. The costs of any external solicitors or counsel in such litigation are not managed by my...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Legal Cases (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: Litigation is dealt with on behalf of my Department by the Office of the Attorney General, the Chief State Solicitor’s Office and the State Claims Agency, who engage lawyers to act for the Department where necessary. The costs of any external solicitors or counsel in such litigation are not managed by my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tillage Sector (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: This Government recognises the importance of the tillage sector and wants to grow the area under tillage crops in the years ahead. Reflecting this importance, my Department has provided significant direct supports to tillage farmers in recent years. This year, the budget for the Protein Aid Scheme is €10m and will remain at €10m for the remainder of the current CAP...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Commission's proposals for the next CAP and the next EU Budget (MFF) post-2027, published on 16 July, are the first step in a long process of negotiation. The next MFF will ultimately be agreed by EU Heads of State and Government at the European Council. My Department will analyse the Commission’s proposals in detail to fully understand the implications for both the structure...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: In June the European Commission wrote to Ireland clearly outlining the need for Ireland to provide clarity and assurances that assessments will be performed on the environmental effects of any potential new nitrates derogation including with regard to the Habitats Directive and ensuring non-deterioration of sites designated under that Directive. Previously when preparing a new Nitrates...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Costs (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department closely monitors the trends in agriculture costs and prices, with the Central Statistics Office producing Agricultural Input and Output Price Indices on a monthly basis. Data for 2025 shows a continued moderation of agricultural input costs, including energy costs, following the input price peak of 2022. For 2025 to date (January to May), the input price average is 15.7%...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Passports (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: Pet passports are provided to individual applicants by private veterinary practitioners. My Department conducts welfare checks and compliance checks on pets that enter Ireland through Traveller Points of Entry (TPOE) as required under Regulation 576/2013. Records of incoming pets are not routinely cross-matched with those leaving the country.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Passports (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: Pet passports are provided to individual applicants by private veterinary practitioners. My Department does not keep a record of the number of people applying for pet passports from their private veterinary practitioner.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department is committed to ensuring that a highly skilled and motivated workforce is in place to meet business needs and uses workforce planning to identify and assess these needs for all locations. My Department undertakes a broad range of services in meeting its business objectives, the delivery of which is supported by staff across administrative and specialist grades. Rather than...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Control of Dogs (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department has overall policy responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014. Local Authorities have responsibility for all operational matters under the Control of Dogs Acts including enforcement. Each year statistics are collected and collated from local authorities in relation to dog control services. These statistics include, but are not limited to, the number of dogs...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: Following the latest Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) payment run over 99% of participants have had their 2023 payments finalised, almost 98% of participants have now received their 2024 advance payment (which is worth 85% of the total payment for 2024), while over 95% have also received the remainder of their 2024 payments which issue in the balancing payments. Payments...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: As the Deputy may be aware, ACRES payments continue to issue on a weekly basis. More than 99% of participants have now had their 2023 ACRES payments finalised. It should also be noted that, of the remaining 246 participants, 38 received an interim payment, which may cover the contract value for the 2023 scheme year. Nonetheless, it is a priority to resolve the 2023 scheme year payments...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Culls (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department, along with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage established the Irish Deer Management Strategy group to develop a strategy for the sustainable management of deer in Ireland. The Group comprised representatives from my Department, National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Coillte. A report was published into “Developing a Sustainable Deer...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Communications (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Deputy may wish to note that my government business is carried out through secure official email accounts. My Department is bound by its Information Security Acceptable Use Policy which states that the official email accounts assigned to each member of staff are to be used for all work related correspondence.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Communications (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I wish to inform the Deputy that I do not have any messaging provider downloaded on my Ministerial phone.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (29 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: In common with all Government Departments, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine pays relevant expenses under the broad headings of Travel & Subsistence including travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses attributable to activities and expenses whilst engaged in official Department duties in Ireland and abroad. Expenses are submitted and approved via the National...