Results 1-20 of 3,570 for speaker:Martin Heydon

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

Martin Heydon: The table below shows the total costs associated with the Ministerial Trade Mission to Nigeria and Senegal in September 2023. The costs shown below are in respect of travel by the previous Minister and six officials from my Department. Flights €30,801.19 Hotels €5,461.21 Transport €2,605.95 ...

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

Martin Heydon: Coillte was set up as a commercial State body under the Forestry Act, 1988, and is therefore independent from my Department in relation to operational matters, as specified in the Act. As one of the shareholders of Coillte, I have responsibility for the oversight of the Company in accordance with the Act and I also have expectations in relation to Coillte’s engagement in climate...

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

Martin Heydon: My Department recognises that the recent storms Darragh and Éowyn, have caused varying degrees of damage around the country, including significant damage to trees and that this presents challenges to all stakeholders in forestry. My Department officials are in regular contact with the ESB, particularly in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn. On 5th February 2025, a decision was made by...

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

Martin Heydon: My Department is in the process of drafting a Data Strategy to underpin efficient data collection and data storage as a basis for all uses of data within my Department. The data strategy will be applicable to all data created, captured, stored, and utilised by my Department. All current and future use cases of Artificial Intelligence (AI) are subject to review, data protection and...

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

Martin Heydon: My Department currently has no projects underway with CeADAR, Irelands National Centre for AI.

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

Martin Heydon: The information sought by the Deputy is an operational matter for the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the State Bodies and have requested that a response issue within 10 days.

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

Martin Heydon: My Department is considering the future use cases of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the following areas as proof of concept projects. Application development and Service Delivery.Agri-food supply chain security.Customer Service and Corporate administration. All current and future use cases are subject to review, data protection and governance measures and are solely under the governance of...

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

Martin Heydon: My Department has an Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy in place which has been communicated to all staff through an AI awareness campaign. Training on the use of AI is in development and will be provided to staff in due course. In the interim, there is a dedicated Data Management and Analytics Division acting as a centre of excellence and support for Data and AI.

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

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 together. The work of my Department covers a wide range of issues, from policy development and implementation, to regulation in areas such as food safety, animal and plant health and animal welfare, forestry, fisheries management and the environment. My Department also manages payments to support farming, fisheries and forestry. The Minister's...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Surveys (10 Apr 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: Fishing Industry (9 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 212 together. In March of this year, I, along with Minister of State Timmy Dooley, announced details of €27.75 million of funding allocated for capital projects in Ireland’s publicly owned harbours through the 2025 Fishery Harbour Centre and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. This aligns with our Programme for Government...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (9 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: Under the new Forestry Programme 2023-2027, the Woodlands Creation on Public Lands Scheme is now being offered through my Department’s Afforestation Scheme as Forest Type 3 ‘Forest Creation on Public Lands’. The Afforestation Scheme 2023-2027 offers landowners, including Local Authorities a choice of 12 Forest Types which cover a broad range of planting options. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (9 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217, 214, 215 and 216 together. 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. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (9 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department annually prepares and posts an application pack to all farmers who applied for BISS in the previous year. Printing and dispatch of the these packs is currently ongoing with the last batch of packs to be posted next week. The packs are not printed by county or herd number order and so won't be delivered to an area all at the same time. I can confirm that the preprint pack has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Irish Sign Language (9 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 came into effect on 23rd December 2020 and imposes certain obligations on public bodies, including my Department and its agencies. In particular, section 6 of the Act places a duty on public bodies to provide access to public services or statutory entitlements through Irish Sign Language (ISL) when requested through the provision of free ISL...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Artificial Intelligence (9 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The information sought by the Deputy is an operational matter for the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the State Bodies and have requested that a response issue within 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Marine Institute (9 Apr 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: Legislative Measures (9 Apr 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021 which is a Private Members Bill lapsed with the dissolution of the Dáil last November. When the Bill was proceeding through the Seanad my Department raised some concerns in relation to imposing a statutory ban on the importation of non-native honey bees as it could constitute a restriction on trade under EU Regulations. ...

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

Martin Heydon: The table below provides details on the numbers of technical grades that retired/transferred out from the Agricultural Environmental Schemes Division in 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025 as requested by the Deputy. Technical Grades Retired/Transferred out Agricultural Environmental Schemes Division Grade 2022 ...

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

Martin Heydon: My Department is committed to ensuring that a skilled and motivated workforce is in place to meet its priority business needs. Workforce planning processes are utilised to identify our requirements across all technical grade streams and locations, and to ensure a long-term, proactive and strategic plan through which current and future staffing needs are addressed. Overall staffing levels...