Results 341-360 of 5,025 for speaker:Martin Heydon

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

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 506, 507 and 508 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. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Veterinary Services (23 Sep 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 our grade streams and locations, aiming to ensure a long-term, proactive and strategic plan by which current and future staffing needs are addressed. The table below outlines the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Sales (23 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 Schemes (23 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The partnership to which the Deputy refers comprises of two herdowners who had submitted separate applications to enter the Co-operation approach of the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) and were both approved into Tranche 1 of the Scheme, with a commencement date of 1st January 2023. I note that payments in respect of their individual contracts have been finalised in respect of...

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

Martin Heydon: Animal welfare is a key priority for me, as Minister, and for the Government. The Animal Welfare Grants Programme provides considerable support for animal welfare charities to assist them in their vital work in rescuing and rehoming animals. In November 2024, funding of almost €6 million was provided to 101 animal welfare charities nationwide including an award of €931,750 to...

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

Martin Heydon: Please see attached document outlining the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine expenditure on off-site storage COMPANY NAME YEAR TOTAL SPEND (inclusive of VAT) Iron Mountain 2020 €3,014.70 Iron Mountain 2021 €60,036.10 Iron Mountain 2022 ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (18 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I fully recognise the pressures facing the tillage sector due to the challenging market outlook and downward price pressure this season. I attended the tillage grower meeting last Friday evening, where I engaged directly with the farming organisations and their members to directly hear their concerns. This Government recognises the importance of the tillage sector and wants to grow the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (18 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the organisation charged with the role of Keeper of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book (IGSB) since 1923. The Stud Book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership of all greyhounds. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann. The ICC has informed my Department that the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (18 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I understand from the Irish Coursing Club that 8,637 non-coursing greyhounds, whose year of birth was 2024, were registered at microchipping stage.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (18 Sep 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. The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (18 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Whilst my Department does provide animal welfare related funding to charities in relation to their animal welfare related activities, and having examined the material referenced, as forwarded by the Deputy, it is clear that the request is more oriented as a sports grant application for dog showing equipment for competitions as opposed to for assistance re welfare activities. Furthermore,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (18 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Animal welfare is a key priority for me, as Minister, and for the Government. The Animal Welfare Grants Programme provides considerable support for animal welfare charities to assist them in their vital work in rescuing and rehoming animals. In November 2024, funding of almost €6 million was provided to 101 animal welfare charities nationwide including an award of €931,750 to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Vaccination Programme (18 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Badger vaccination is now a key part of the Irish TB Eradication Programme. This follows over 15 years of research work using BCG vaccine to prevent tuberculosis infection in badgers, and scientific trials carried out between 2013 and 2017 that show that vaccination is no less effective than culling. The large-scale rollout of badger vaccination commenced in late 2019. Every year more and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Procurement Contracts (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department has published the reports of procurement-related payments of purchase orders over €20,000 for Quarter 1 and 2 of 2025. These reports, along with prior years reports are available on the Department's website at www.agriculture.gov.ie under the Contracts Awarded link in the Freedom of Information (FOI) section. The Quarter 3 report will be published in Quarter 4 of 2025.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Procurement Contracts (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The reports have now been published in .xls (excel) format as requested. They are available on the Department's website at www.agriculture.gov.ie under the Contracts Awarded link in the Freedom of Information (FOI) section.. Future reports will also be published on my Department’s website in this format on a quarterly basis.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The budgetary process for 2026 is still underway. I am therefore not in a position to give any specific details in relation to Budget 2026 at this time. My Department has committed €550,000 in research funding for the SPRINGWOOL project: “Spring Wool - removing bottlenecks and providing a springboard for innovation in the Irish Grown Wool sector". This research project...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Animal welfare is a key priority for my Department and considerable funding is provided to support eligible animal welfare charities nationwide, through the annual Animal Welfare Grant Programme, which is administered by my Department. The purpose of the Animal Welfare grants programme, is to provide funding to registered animal welfare charities in Ireland that are engaged in the rescue,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The new Programme for Government prioritises “supporting inter-generational farm succession”. Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the agri-food sector, states that generational renewal in farming is critically important to ensure the future viability and social sustainability of the Irish agri-food sector and of rural Ireland. There are a number of supports for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I would like to take this opportunity to extend my condolences to the family in question. Following further examination of this case, my Department has identified that the herdowner named passed away before an ACRES application had been formally submitted. In effect, no application was received to participate in the Scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Data (17 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Listed in the table below are the food products, plant products or any other products which were seized by the officials of my Department at ports of entry to the State during 2024 and, to date in 2025. My Department does not have access to data on the value of the goods seized. Port of Entry Category Type Weight (kg) Rosslare ...