Results 321-340 of 5,025 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan (30 Sep 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. However, the use of land for tillage or any other agricultural enterprise is untimely a matter for farmers themselves. Despite the various challenges that the sector has faced in recent years, the area of crops has remained relatively stable. Since 2020, the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: In general, land burnt during the closed season (March 1st to August 31st) is not eligible for the purpose of payment under the BISS or any other area based scheme. My Department actively identifies areas of burnt land declared for area based schemes, and in particular land that is burned during the closed season. Where land is identified as having been burned during the closed season no...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Food produced at establishments approved by my Department that is recalled by reason of confirmation of the presence of microorganisms linked to food borne disease must be declared unfit for human consumption. This recalled food must be disposed of under Animal By-Product Regulation 1069/2009 if it is of animal origin. This means that it must be sent to an animal by-product handling facility....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible for the Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters Regulations 2022 (SI 113 of 2022, as amended). Under these Regulations the closed period for applying slurry to land now commences on the 1st of October annually. In 2022 the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, following consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 758 and 759 together. 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 On Farm Market Valuation scheme provides compensation to affected herdowners up to the market value that each individual animal would have attained on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (30 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: There is detailed European Union and Irish legislation in place on the protection of broiler chickens which sets out specific requirements that must be met by anyone keeping commercial broiler flocks. Trained Veterinary Inspectors from my Department carry out risk-based inspections of a selection of flocks each year to check compliance with these requirements. The inspections are carried out...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Byrne for raising this important issue. He touched on the heart of the challenge. It has been three really difficult years for the tillage sector, and for tillage farmers in particular, due to weather, prices and ongoing challenges. The tillage sector is an incredibly important component of the overall agricultural sector. Farmers are very dependent on one another. We are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: It did not work out so well for them over in Britain.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Veterinary Laboratories (25 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department is working in partnership with the Office of Public Works to develop detailed proposals for a redevelopment programme of the Regional Veterinary Laboratory network. Under current proposals the development of the laboratory facilities in Sligo is scheduled for the second phase. Ultimately, the pace and scheduling of these proposals will be determined by the availability of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (25 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I published the Bovine TB Action Plan, “Addressing Bovine TB in Ireland”, on 9 September. The Action Plan follows extensive discussions with stakeholders in recent months. I also received support and approval from Cabinet on 24 June to address the current high levels of Bovine TB (bTB). The Action Plan is based on scientific research and veterinary expertise. There are five...

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

Martin Heydon: The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible for the Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters Regulations 2022 (SI 113 of 2022, as amended). Under these Regulations the closed period for applying slurry to land now commences on the 1st of October annually. In 2022 the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, following consultation...

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

Martin Heydon: The Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme provides financial compensation to farmers in recognition of the additional cost they incur in farming land that is designated as disadvantaged/constrained. In 2019, Ireland was required, under Articles 31 and 32 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013, to change the approach used to designating land as eligible for payment under the scheme. Up to that...

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

Martin Heydon: My Department, including all agencies under the aegis of my Department, has no role in determining or intervening in prices for food commodities at farm-gate or retail level. Market prices are a matter between suppliers and buyers. However, my Department does monitor the trends in agricultural input and output prices, with recent estimates indicating that trading conditions for farmers...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (24 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 144 together. Animal welfare is a key priority for me as Minister and for the Government. The Animal Welfare Grants Programme provided considerable support for animal welfare charities, with €6 million awarded to 101 animal welfare charities nationwide, in 2024 including the organisation in question. Animal Welfare Grants are paid under the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Middle East (23 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 498 and 499 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has not purchased or acquired any product or service from Israel or the Occupied Territories, or the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in the past two years.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (23 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department, together with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, co-published an agri centric National Biomethane Strategy in May 2024. This was Ireland’s first major policy statement on biomethane and is an important milestone in the development of this indigenous sector in Ireland. As committed to under the Strategy, my Department launched the first capital...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Local Authorities (23 Sep 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 Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fines Administration (23 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 502 and 503 together. On 1 June 2025, all policy and legislative responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts transferred to my Department from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG). It must be noted that local authorities retain responsibility for all operational, implementation and enforcement matters under the Acts. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Data (23 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department has overall policy responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014. Local authorities, through the Dog Warden service, have responsibility for all operational matters under the Control of Dogs Acts, including enforcement. The operational deployment of dog wardens is a matter for each local authority to consider.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Reviews (23 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 505 and 517 together. On 1 June 2025, all policy and legislative responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts transferred to my Department from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG). In March 2024, the then Minister for Rural and Community Development established the Dog Control stakeholder group to review the...