Results 361-380 of 4,255 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (27 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 514 together. The Government’s afforestation target of 8,000 hectares per year is set out in the Climate Action Plan. The current Forestry Programme is the largest ever funded Programme to date, which provides attractive financial incentives and a broad range of planting options in order to achieve these ambitious targets. The comprehensive...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (27 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The table below outlines the number of forestry licences issued in Q1 over the last 7 years. Year Q1 Felling Private Felling Coillte Afforestation Roads 2019 328 1,885 210 203 2020 214 218 155 91 2021 198 333 ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (27 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: GAEC 2 is a mandatory condition of the payment of the Basic Income Support for farmers (BISS). Its objective is to protect wetlands and peatlands – high carbon soils. The standard provides for a baseline protection for carbon rich soils, while allowing agricultural activity to continue. Parcels with areas of 50% or more peat soil are determined as applicable to GAEC 2. The Areas of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (27 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Areas of Natural Constraints scheme provides payments to people farming land in designated areas that face significant hardships from factors such as remoteness, difficult topography, climatic problems, and poor soil conditions. Support is provided based on the following categories of land: Category 1 land: The system of farming prevalent in Category 1 is characterised by extensive...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (27 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Areas of Natural Constraints scheme provides payments to people farming land in designated areas that face significant hardships from factors such as remoteness, difficult topography, climatic problems, and poor soil conditions. Support is provided based on the following categories of land: Category 1 land: The system of farming prevalent in Category 1 is characterised by extensive...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (27 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 518 to 521, inclusive, together. In 2022, the fourth National Forest Inventory (NFI) estimated the area of forest to be 808,848 hectares or 11.6% of the land area. The purpose of the NFI is to record and assess the extent and nature of Ireland’s forests, both public and private, in a timely, accurate and reproducible manner. Reliable, current and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (27 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: As of 26 May 2025, a total of almost €492 million has issued since ACRES payments commenced at the end of 2023. Balancing payments in respect of the 2024 scheme year commenced on 15 May 2025, with €34.3 million issuing to 45,112 participants to date. The remaining 2024 balancing payments will issue in parallel with remaining 2023 payments and 2024 advance payments. In the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (22 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: Vessels equal to or greater than 27.43 metres but less than 36.58 metres in overall length, except those licensed in the Specific Segment, are precluded from fishing within three nautical miles from baselines. If such vessels are permitted to fish for herring or mackerel, they are precluded from fishing for such stocks within six and 12 nautical miles from baselines, respectively. Vessels...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sports Organisations (22 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 315, 316 and 317 together. Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is an approved Passport Issuing Organisation (PIO) and was awarded the contract for studbook services by my Department, effective 1st January 2023, for the Irish Sport Horse, Irish Draught, Irish Sport Pony, Irish Cob and Part-bred Cob following a tendering process. The following tables as provided by...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Freedom of Information (22 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I am fully cognisant of the statutory obligations that apply under the Freedom of Information Act 2014 and I am satisfied that records relating to government or official department business are retained in line with the requirements of the Act.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Question Heading for question(s) 319 (22 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I wish to inform the Deputy that the Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department. I have been informed, however, that a review request was submitted to the Director in May 2024 and observations on that request were provided by my Department in July 2024. I understand that the Director deals with review requests in the order in which they are submitted to the...

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

Martin Heydon: My Department is committed to embracing opportunities for remote and blended working, to build a more dynamic, agile and responsive Civil Service, while sustaining strong standards of performance and high levels of productivity. As of 11/5/2025, the number of staff approved for remote working 2 days per week is outlined in tabular form below. No. of days Count of...

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

Martin Heydon: For operational and security reasons, my Department has been advised by the National Cyber Security Centre not to disclose particular arrangements in place in relation to IT tools and services or details which could, in any way, identify potential vulnerabilities in Departmental Cybersecurity arrangements.

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

Martin Heydon: For operational and security reasons, my Department has been advised by the National Cyber Security Centre not to disclose particular arrangements in place in relation to IT tools and services or details which could, in any way, identify potential vulnerabilities in Departmental Cybersecurity arrangements.

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

Martin Heydon: For operational and security reasons, my Department has been advised by the National Cyber Security Centre not to disclose particular arrangements in place in relation to IT tools and services or details which could, in any way, identify potential vulnerabilities in Departmental Cybersecurity arrangements

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

Martin Heydon: For operational and security reasons, my Department has been advised by the National Cyber Security Centre not to disclose particular arrangements in place in relation to IT tools and services or details which could, in any way, identify potential vulnerabilities in Departmental Cybersecurity arrangements.

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

Martin Heydon: My Department’s network is connected to the Internet through the Government Networks service (GN), which is a secure Government, managed, wide-area network connecting public service bodies on a data, voice and video-capable network.

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

Martin Heydon: At the February meeting of the TB Forum it was agreed that all stakeholders would provide proposals on new measures for inclusion in the TB programme aimed at reducing TB levels in cattle against the backdrop of surging disease levels. At the TB Forum on 26th March all stakeholders were provided the opportunity to present proposals on draft measures to be incorporated into the TB programme...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (21 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: ACRES payments continue to issue on a weekly basis as cases pass all required validation checks. Last week, I announced that balancing payments in respect of the 2024 scheme year have commenced, with over €33 million issuing to 42,444 participants. The remaining 2024 balancing payments will issue in parallel with remaining 2023 payments and 2024 advance payments. A total of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (21 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 107 together. ACRES payments continue to issue on a weekly basis as cases pass all required validation checks. Last week, I announced that balancing payments in respect of the 2024 scheme year have commenced, with over €33 million issuing to 42,444 participants. The remaining 2024 balancing payments will issue in parallel with remaining 2023...