Results 1-20 of 4,958 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (5 Nov 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy for raising what is a really important issue. The nitrates derogation is critically important, not just for our 7,000 derogation farmers, many of whom are in County Tipperary, but for our overall rural economy and for all elements of agriculture. It comes down to land availability and many other measures. This has been a top priority for me since I became Minister for...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (5 Nov 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. First, I extend my sympathy to the flock owner affected in Carlow. We have a 3 km protection zone and a 10 km zone in place, as is procedure. At noon today, I announced the introduction of a housing order in consultation with my colleague in Northern Ireland, the Minister, Mr. Muir. That will take effect in Ireland from next Monday...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Nov 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy for raising this point. We in government fundamentally believe in the importance of the nitrates derogation. Our 7,000 derogation farmers are operating to a higher level of environmental sustainability and with a higher level of conditionality to reach to meet that point. We know the economic value it has for our country, with 49% of our dairy herd in derogation and...

Fisheries: Statements (22 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputies for their engagement in what is a really important debate on the issues in respect of fisheries. The concern in all our coastal communities, as raised by Deputies, is very evident, particularly in Donegal and Cork where fishing is such an intrinsic part of our economic activity, as it is in Waterford and Dublin - the latter which is sometimes forgotten in terms of costal...

Fisheries: Statements (22 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: My officials are taking note of all the questions.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (22 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 126 together. The European Commission has published its proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period 2028–2034. These proposals represent a significant structural change, as it is proposed that the CAP will form part of the broader National and Regional Partnership Plan...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (22 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: While Ukraine has been granted EU candidate status and accession negotiations have formally commenced, the European Commission’s published proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2028–2034 do not assume Ukraine’s full membership during this period. The Commission has, however, acknowledged that future enlargement of the Union, including Ukraine’s...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Payments (22 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: The person named submitted an application under the ACRES Co-operation stream and was approved into Tranche 2 of the scheme, with a commencement date of 1st January 2024. The issue that had been preventing this case from passing the required validations for the Advance payment for 2024 has been identified, and my Department is actively working on resolving this issue in order to progress...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (22 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. My Department provides a range of financial supports that focus on compensating farmers for both direct and indirect losses incurred as a result of a TB breakdown on the farm. The primary support scheme is the On Farm...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (22 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department leads the One Health All Ireland for European Surveillance (OH-ALLIES) project which has received EU funding to set up a coordinated surveillance system under the One Health approach for cross-border pathogens that threaten the Union. One of the strategic objectives of this project is to establish infrastructure and processes allowing enhanced surveillance of influenza in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Artificial Intelligence (22 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department is not using agentic AI in projects, contracts, or pilots currently being undertaken or in development. All current and future AI use cases are subject to human review, data protection and governance measures. My Department is committed to ensuring that any use of AI is informed by an assessment of any potential human rights and equality implications, with a need for careful...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Contracts (22 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: The information requested by the Deputy is being collated by my Department and a response will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (21 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department takes the matter of animal welfare most seriously and is committed to the enforcement of the Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013. Prosecutions under the Act are pursued following investigations by authorised officers who investigate matters relating to animal cruelty and neglect. Offences under the Act may be prosecuted in the District Court by the Minister for Agriculture,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (21 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 628 and 629 together. Under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, it is illegal to crop the ears of a puppy or dog of any age. Ear-cropping is a cruel and unnecessary mutilation, causing the dog pain and suffering at the time the ears are cropped, and can often lead to lifelong discomfort and recurrent infections. Statutory Instrument 412 of 2023...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (21 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: The euthanasia of any animal is not permitted at a Department authorised knackery premises, accordingly, greyhounds may not be killed at knackeries, unless for immediate welfare concerns. My Department would welcome and encourage individuals with any information around alleged euthanasia at knackeries to make this information available to my Department in the local Regional Veterinary...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (21 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. RCE, under its code of practice for the care and welfare of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (21 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: Under the Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013, my Department has primary policy responsibility for the welfare of all animals. Since the introduction of the Act, approximately 1,000 staff within my Department have been designated as authorised officers. A large number of these authorised officers are based in my Department’s network of Regional Veterinary Offices throughout the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Contracts (21 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: The information requested by the Deputy is being collated by my Department and a response will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (21 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. I secured an increased budget allocation of €85 million for bTB in Budget 2026, providing a total budget of €157 million. I am confident that this increased budget will allow the revamped bTB programme to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (21 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: On 1 June 2025, policy and legislative responsibility under the Control of Dogs Act (1986) transferred to my Department from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. On 1 August 2025, all policy and legislative responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act (2010) transferred to my Department. A high-level group, namely the Dog Control Stakeholder...