Results 21-40 of 4,567 for speaker:Martin Heydon

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

Martin Heydon: Please see table below with details of property in Co. Kerry owned but not utilised by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Type Location Future Plans Suitable for housing Land Glanlea No plans Not suitable for Housing as this is bogland and land has turbary rights. Land Ballydunlea ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1742, 1743 and 1744 together. There are educational requirements in place to qualify for certain taxation measures administered by the Revenue Commissioners and some of my Department’s schemes. A person is deemed to meet the educational requirements for “Trained Farmer” status if they hold an approved qualification. There are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1745 and 1746 together. The Control of Horses Act, 1996 was introduced to provide for the control of horses and to make provision for the licencing of horses in urban and other areas where horses cause a danger or nuisance to people or property.  Enforcement of the act is a matter for the local authorities.  The Act is currently under review within...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Traceability is essential to the protection of horses. Gaps in traceability allow for neglect and mistreatment without accountability. I have committed resources to improving our equine traceability system which will ensure our horses’ health and welfare are protected throughout their lives. On Wednesday the 20 August 2025 I published a status report on my action plan to deliver the...

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

Martin Heydon: The 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 Industry (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Green Cert is delivered by different education providers from across the further education system, including Teagasc, some Employment and Training Boards and private providers. All providers are accredited by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the national agency responsible for validating education programmes leading to QQI awards. The minimum age requirement is a matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: As the Deputy may be aware, significant progress has been made since the figures quoted above. At this point in time over 99% of participants have had their 2023 payments finalised. Over 98% of participants have now received their 2024 advance payment which is worth 85% of the total payment for 2024. Finally almost 97% have also received the remainder of their 2024 payments which issue in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Bovine TB is a challenging disease to control and eradicate.  I am very aware of the effect this disease is having on farmers and their families, both financially and emotionally, throughout rural Ireland. In recent years, bovine TB (bTB) levels have continued to deteriorate despite everyone's efforts. Herd incidence has increased from 4.31% in 2022 to 6.04% in 2024. As of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The use of sulkies on public roads specifically, as with the use of all vehicles, including animal-drawn vehicles, is governed by the relevant provisions of the Roads and Road Traffic Acts. Revisions to this legislation would be a matter for the Minister for Transport.  The drivers of all vehicles used on public roads, including horse-drawn carriages, are required to comply with...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I am not aware of any assessment that has been conducted on the issue raised by the Deputy. The use of vegetable fats in ice cream or frozen dessert products is allowable under EU legislation.  However there is specific EU legislation in place to ensure that consumers have accurate information about their food. EU Regulation 1169/2011 sets out detailed rules for labelling, including...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Ireland has consistently highlighted that the EU trade agreement with Mercosur should include legally binding commitments on sustainability, including climate, biodiversity, and deforestation protections. As it stands, it is not clear that those legally binding assurances have been secured. I am very aware that Irish and EU farmers are subject to complex regulations requiring them to farm...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: GAEC 2 is a mandatory condition of the payment of the Basic Income Support for Farmers (BISS). It is intended to protect peatlands and wetlands. The EU Regulation for CAP Strategic Plans requires all Member States to have a standard in place this year at the latest. Ireland's GAEC 2 was approved by the European Commission on 30th April 2025 and is now in place.  It aims to strike...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hare Coursing (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Coursing is regulated under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC), subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann. The granting of licenses for the netting and tagging of hares is a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage – National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).  ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Issues (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1764 and 1765 together. In preparation for the introduction of the new GAEC 2 standard  - Protection of Peatlands and Wetlands, officials from my department completed a detailed review of existing data sources of peat maps. In completing this task Department officials consulted widely within my own department, with officials in the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Regeneration Projects (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The National Peatlands Strategy is under the Remit of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Sphagnum farming has the potential to provide a partial peat alternative, restore raised bog ecosystems and sequester carbon. However, there is still a lot of research to be done in Ireland to explore its potential. In line with this, my Department is funding the ‘Beyond Peat’...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The use of sulkies on public roads specifically, as with the use of all vehicles, including animal-drawn vehicles, is governed by the relevant provisions of the Roads and Road Traffic Acts. Revisions to this legislation would be a matter for the Minister for Transport.  The drivers of all vehicles used on public roads, including horse-drawn carriages, are required to comply with...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: Traceability is essential to the protection of horses. Gaps in traceability allow for neglect and mistreatment without accountability. My Department has worked hard in recent years to drive compliance with equine traceability requirements by continually updating operating procedures. In 2024 a new requirement was introduced for operators to provide proof of their equines’...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The current legislation in operation regarding horse-drawn carriages for hire or reward in Dublin City is the Dublin Carriages Act 1853-1855. Queries in relation to issues regarding updating the legislation should be referred to The Department of Transport.  The drivers of all vehicles used on public roads, including horse-drawn carriages, are required to comply with road traffic...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Control of Horses (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Control of Horses Act, 1996 was introduced to provide for the control of horses and to make provision for the licencing of horses in urban and other areas where horses cause a danger or nuisance to people or property.  Enforcement of the act is a matter for the local authorities.  The Act is currently under review within my Department, with work progressing on this primary,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (8 Sep 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1781 and 1782 together. The application window for the scheme to support Long Established Young Farmers, more commonly referred to as forgotten farmers, has closed. The scheme was widely flagged in the farming media, and was open for just over 3 weeks from July to receive applications. During that period, my Department issued text message reminders to...