Results 221-240 of 3,570 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Official Engagements (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: I can confirm that I spoke via video conference call with my UK counterpart, Secretary of State, Steve Reed in recent weeks. Our conversation was constructive, and covered topics including trade, bio-security and the importance of collaboration between our Departments on matters of mutual interest. We also agreed to meet in person when the opportunity arises.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: More than €440 million has been paid to ACRES participants to date. A total of €247.4 million has been paid to 42,631 participants (25,537 General and 17,094 Co-operation), or 95% of all ACRES participants, in respect of their participation in the Scheme in 2023. A further 2,302 farmers have yet to receive their final payments for 2023. Of these, 2,008 have already received an...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Social Media (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: I wish to advise the Deputy that, in 2024, 80% of videos posted on my Department’s social media accounts (Facebook, X, LinkedIn and You Tube) included closed captions / subtitles. There were no videos posted during 2024 that included Irish sign language translations. As regards the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: My colleague, Minister of State Dooley, has met with the fisheries representative organisations in February and requested a submission from each on matters of importance to their sector members. These matters will be fully considered and will inform a series of industry engagements that Minister Dooley has committed to over the coming months. Specific areas where my Department and state...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: The list of Total Payments to Farmers by County for 2024 are as follows: Total Payments (Direct and Capital, including TAMS) to Farmers by DAFM by County in 2024 County Average Farmer Payment Rounded to nearest €500 Per County Total payments Million Euro Carlow €20,000 €37.9 Cavan ...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: Stop it.

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy National Plan: Statements (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on his role in this Seanad term ahead. It is a great honour for me to be here as Minister for agriculture addressing the Seanad in what is a very important debate. I thank Members for putting this on the agenda and giving us the opportunity to have this debate on the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP. We are currently about halfway through the implementation...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy National Plan: Statements (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank all the Members for their detailed contributions and the great debate on not just the CAP but also the importance of the agricultural sector to our country. There was commonality in some of the points raised, which does not surprise me. There was also a variance that really shows the geographical spread and nature of our different farming systems. The one thing we all have in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Telecommunications Infrastructure (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: As a matter of law, the care and management of trees adjacent to roads is the responsibility of the landowner on whose land the roadside trees are growing. It is advisable that landowners make themselves aware of the full legal extent of their land ownership and of any obligations arising from this. The implementation of the legislation on the management or removal of dangerous roadside trees...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Information and Communications Technology (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department has approximately 70 WAN circuits delivered on DSL over copper. The costings for the WAN circuits on copper lines are approximately €25 per circuit per month. My Department’s Telephony Service uses 587 lines at €20,055.70 per month ex. Vat. My Department has no active copper-based lease lines. The number of lines continues to reduce as the Department move...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: There are currently 171 herdowners with ACRES overpayments outstanding, of which 97 are part of the General stream and 74 are part of the Co-operation stream. As the Deputy may be aware, it was announced in February 2024 that an interim payment would be made to support those Tranche 1 participants who had not yet received their advance payment in respect of 2023. ACRES General...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Industry (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. Whilst I have not formally met with the CEO of HRI since my appointment, I have met the CEO as part of my wider engagements with the horse racing industry.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: Veterinary Inspector is the recruitment level grade within the Veterinary team of my Department. Veterinary Inspectors who are newly recruited into my Department are placed on the Civil Service pay scale which, since March 2025, has a starting point of €68,683 (PPC) €72,468 (Non PPC)

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. The responsibility for the development and maintenance of local authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each local authority in the first instance and their parent Department, the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: Since 2020 there are no persons on secondment from consulting firms to my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 389 and 390 together. Data in relation to lengths of time that ACRES payments have been outstanding is not held by my Department. ACRES was implemented on a phased basis, with a commencement date of 1st January 2023 for Tranche 1 participants and 1st January 2024 for Tranche 2 participants. It is important to note that not all outstanding payments are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: As the Deputy has requested, the following table represents the number of farmers in each Co-operation zone awaiting the finalisation of ACRES payments in respect of the 2024 scheme year. These figures also include any participant who has not yet had their 2023 ACRES contract finalised. Burren 330 Donegal 659 East South East ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the Landscape Action element of the Co-operation approach of the ACRES Scheme. ACRES has been implemented on a phased basis in view of the high level of participation and the range of opportunities available under the Scheme, all of which required the development of new and extensive IT functionality. Non-Productive Investments (NPIs) and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: ACRES is the first scheme of its kind to upscale results-based payments to a national level. This is a significant change in implementing such an innovative and ambitious scheme, and it has come with complexities and challenges. There is significant work involved in the verification of payment claims, and in the calculation and issuing of payments to over 54,000 participants from all...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: A total of €247.4 million has been paid to 42,631 participants (25,537 General and 17,094 Co-operation), or 95% of all ACRES participants, in respect of their participation in ACRES in 2023. Consequentially, 2,302 farmers have yet to receive their final payments for 2023. Of these, 2,008 have already received an interim payment of either €4,000 or €5,000, respectively. ...