Results 4,881-4,900 of 4,911 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Directives (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: There is significant engagement and action across the agri-food sector in relation to improving water quality and reducing emissions. The Government remains committed to seeking a continuation of Ireland's nitrates derogation and improving water quality. The Nitrates Regulations form the baseline for reducing agricultural nutrient losses and improving water quality. However,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Wildlife Protection (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department is supporting farmers in the critical work that they undertake in conserving and restoring nature, across many fronts. My colleague the Minister of State for Nature, Heritage & Biodiversity has lead responsibility for the development of Ireland's Nature Restoration Plan . The Deputy may be aware that I secured an increased allocation of €280m funding in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: Bovine TB is an ongoing challenge for Irish farmers. I am acutely aware of the emotional and financial impacts of bovine TB on farmers, their families and rural Ireland. In recent years we have seen a significant increase in bTB levels nationally with over 6,000 farm families affected by a bTB outbreak in 2024 and herd incidence was at 6.04%. The primary driver of the cost of the bTB...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Reports (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: I wish to inform the Deputy that the information requested in relation to all studies, research and reports commissioned by my Department, that were outsourced in each of the past five years, is set out in the attached table.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: The requested breakdown of figures per county is currently being compiled and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy on completion.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: As the Deputy may be aware, ACRES payments continue to issue on a weekly basis. More than 99.6% of participants have now had their 2023 ACRES payments finalised. I can confirm that there are now a total of 178 participants awaiting finalisation of their 2023 scheme year payments. These are in a change of contract scenario, in that a change of ownership has taken place and certain...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: It is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy in the required time. A response will issue to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: Regulatory measures under the Nitrates Action Programme were introduced in February 2025 through SI 42 of 2025; the European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 and have now come become effective from 15th September 2025. In the changes introduced through the amendment, a provision has been included to allow a restriction on the use of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: In Budget 2026 my Department has received an allocation of €58.6 million to provide for a continuation of financial support to organic farmers and to encourage the production of organic foods. This will also facilitate a targeted reopening of the scheme to farmers in the tillage sector. There is strong demand for organic cereals, for oats for export markets, and for organic feed -...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: As Coillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988, the development of the implementation plan to deliver its Forest Estate Strategic Land Use Plan is entirely a matter for the company, and my Department is not involved in its preparation. I have accordingly referred the Deputy's question to Coillte for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department developed a Felling Decision Tool to provide forest owners and managers with information on the estimated timber revenues for future management interventions. This tool may be used to assist in deciding when to fell a forest, by providing financial information on the implication of felling earlier or later than when the financial returns are normally at their highest. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: Participants in the Co-Operation stream of the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) have the opportunity to apply for complementary actions in the form of Non-Productive Investments (NPIs) and Landscape Actions (LAs). NPIs are actions designed to achieve environmental improvements on the farm, which can also contribute to wider environmental objectives and increase a farmer's...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: As the Deputy is aware, land use in Ireland is complex and multifaceted. The Land use, Land use change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector faces extremely difficult challenges in reducing emissions due to the biogenic nature of land use, historic land use, cultural and societal issues and uncertainty as our scientific understanding of emissions and activity levels for this sector advances. My...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 757, 758 and 759 together. My Department recognises the significant and growing challenges that primary producers face as a result of climate impacts such as flooding, drought, and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. Supporting resilience, sustainability, and long-term viability in the agriculture, forestry, and seafood sectors is a core objective...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: Under EU Law (Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003) feed additives must undergo a rigorous safety assessment before being placed on the market. This legislation ensures the protection of human health, animal health and the environment. All feed additives intended for use in animal nutrition must receive a favourable opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) before being considered for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department has overall policy responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014. This legislation makes provision for dog licensing arrangements and the functions of dog wardens. Local Authorities have responsibility for all operational, implementation and enforcement matters under the Acts. Section 15(1) of the Control of Dogs Act 1986 states that every local authority must...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Animal Breeding (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: On 1 August 2025, all policy and legislative responsibility for Dog Breeding Establishments transferred to my Department. The Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 provides a robust regulatory framework for the licensing, monitoring and inspection of dog breeding establishments by local authorities and, where a serious and immediate threat exists to public health or animal health and welfare,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: On 1 August 2025, all policy and legislative responsibility for the Dog Breeding Acts 2010 transferred to my Department. Local authorities retain responsibility for all enforcement matters under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. Inspections of Dog Breeding Establishments are carried out by ex local authority vets who transferred to my Department in January of this year, as well as by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Veterinary Services (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253, 254, 255 and 257 together. I propose to take Questions 55616/25, 55617/25, 55618/25 and 55620/25 together. The use of veterinary medicines in Ireland is governed by EU Regulation 2019/6 and is directly applicable throughout the EU. In order for a product, such as the one referred to, to be used in Ireland it must be authorised either nationally or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (15 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: Litigation is dealt with on behalf of my 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 Department. The Veterinary Council of Ireland is under the aegis of the...