Results 21-40 of 3,570 for speaker:Martin Heydon

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

Martin Heydon: I am aware of the incident and my Department is liaising with National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) in relation to this matter. It would not be appropriate to comment further on the individual case. My Department operates a confidential animal welfare helpline and email through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect. The Helpline number and...

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

Martin Heydon: The information requested by the Deputy is set out below.

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

Martin Heydon: The contract for delivering Equine National Breeding Services (NBS) on behalf of my Department was awarded to Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) following a competitive public procurement competition. The programme of measures delivered by HSI under the NBS includes a 'Breeding Grant' scheme. The delivery of measures funded under the 'Breeding Grant' scheme is a matter for the HSI. I understand...

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

Martin Heydon: A zebra is an animal of the equine species and is therefore required to comply with all of the EU equine identification and health certification requirements applicable to other equines such as horses and donkeys. There are several species and sub species of zebra. Depending on the species of wild animal involved, The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wind Fauna and...

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

Martin Heydon: My Department takes the matter of animal welfare most seriously and responds to any reports of alleged animal cruelty or legislative non-compliance. Neglect of or causing unnecessary suffering to animals is not acceptable in our society. I am committed to the policy that animal welfare standards are vigorously applied in a fair and even-handed manner. The welfare of equines is protected by...

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

Martin Heydon: My Department takes the matter of equine welfare most seriously. The welfare of equines is protected by legislation and there is a commitment in the Programme for Government to prioritise equine welfare and to build on existing inspectorate supports across the country, ensuring a consistent approach to dealing with horse welfare. My Department and authorised officers appointed under the...

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

Martin Heydon: My Department takes the matter of animal welfare most seriously and responds to any reports of alleged animal cruelty or legislative non-compliance. Neglect of or causing unnecessary suffering to animals is not acceptable in our society. I am committed to the policy that animal welfare standards are vigorously applied in a fair and even-handed manner. The welfare of equines is protected...

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

Martin Heydon: The information requested by the Deputy is being collated by my Department and a response will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

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

Martin Heydon: I recently launched the National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme which will support farmers rearing progeny from the dairy herd. The scheme to be implemented in 2025 has a budget of € 4 million and will provide farmers with a €20 payment per eligible calf subject to certain conditions. The scheme is currently open for applications and I would encourage all farmers to consider...

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

Martin Heydon: The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) is an agri-environmental climate measure in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027, approved by the European Commission in October 2022. There are currently 54,223 participants in the scheme which exceeds the planned complement of 50,000. Participants in the ACRES Co-operation approach have had the opportunity since their...

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

Martin Heydon: The tillage sector is an integral part of Irish farming. This Government recognises the importance of the sector and wants to grow the area under tillage crops. My Department has provided significant direct supports to tillage farmers. The financial allocation for coupled support under the Protein Aid Scheme has been increased to €10m annually from 2024. The Straw Incorporation...

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

Martin Heydon: As part of Budget 2025 my Department secured an allocation of €5 million for 2025 to support the group of farmers commonly referred to as forgotten farmers. Work is ongoing to address a number of remaining issues, before the details of the eligibility requirements and benefits to successful applicants under any scheme can be finalised.

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

Martin Heydon: Microfinance Ireland (MFI) is a not-for-profit organisation funded through the Government’s Microenterprise Loan Fund. MFI is not under the aegis of my Department, nor does my Department impose any restrictions or have any role in its operational decisions. However, where it offers loans to farmers, MFI must ensure that such loans comply with relevant EU state aid regulations. ...

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

Martin Heydon: The Irish Grown Wool Council was established in April 2023, following recommendations from the Wool Feasibility study, and was set up as an independent stakeholder-led Council. I am supportive of its work and my Department allocated €30,000 to the Council in start-up seed funding, almost €26,000 of which has been drawn down. In addition, in 2024 my Department provided a...

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

Martin Heydon: Grazing Rights are usually linked to an area of land and permit individuals to graze a certain number of livestock pro rata to the number of rights held. Grazing Rights may in certain instances be documented as an appurtenant right on a Land Folio Record and in other instances remain unregistered. My Department has no responsibility in the redistribution of grazing rights.

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

Martin Heydon: The Programme for Government provides a commitment to address the disjointed approach to dog control issues by ensuring all legislation and policy in relation to the control of dogs, dog welfare and dog breeding establishments, will transfer to my Department. Discussions involving the relevant Government Departments (including my Department) on the approach to implementation of the above have...

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

Martin Heydon: Each year my Department invites eligible animal welfare charities to submit a funding application through the Animal Welfare grants programme. To qualify, applicants must meet specified requirements, which are made available through the application process, with awards made on the basis of objective criteria which are reviewed on an annual basis. Last year 6 million of funding was given...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (8 Apr 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. While supporting young farmers and new...

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

Martin Heydon: I can confirm that a total of 1,103 farmers with holdings in County Wexford are currently active participants in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES). Of this total, 670 farmers are currently awaiting their 2024 scheme year advance payments, of which 64 are also awaiting finalisation of 2023 payments. A total of just under €248 million has been paid to 43,032...

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

Martin Heydon: The details supplied refer to an application to become the herd keeper of an established herd. The application was received by my Department on 28 February 2025 and, following an assessment, was approved on 31 March 2025. A letter issued to the applicant that day confirming them as the new herd keeper.