Results 401-420 of 4,255 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Livestock Issues (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The engagement I had on this and all other proposed actions with the stakeholders will feed into the draft proposals to help contribute to a more effective programme that protects farmers and their families from this disease impacting their herds. I will meet the farm organisations again later this week to discuss updated proposals on foot of our discussions. This has been a deliberative...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Livestock Issues (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: There are two key priorities for me. I know the emotional turmoil there is with having a reactor – the impact it has on families as well as the financial impact. The two clear priorities I have is to ensure that those farmers and farm families that are currently affected or will be affected in the future by a bovine TB breakdown have a clear pathway out of that and that we ensure...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Animal Diseases (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I absolutely want to do this in partnership. I know the stress and strain of this. It goes beyond the financial but the financial is really significant. I want to provide a clear pathway for those 6,000 herds, their farmers and their families that are restricted and that have reactors. I want to give them a clear pathway to show that there is light at the end of the tunnel and a way out...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Trade Promotion (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy for raising what is a really important point around trade and trade promotion, which has become so pronounced in the lexicon of everybody and much more in the focus of everyone who pays even a cursory glance at what happens in agriculture. When other countries talk about tariffs and changes to our trade flow, it probably brings a focus in this country from people who do...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Trade Promotion (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy for raising those points. Trade and trade promotion has many different facets, as the Deputy outlined. In terms of the political meetings I had about trade when abroad, reassuring people about our quality assurance scheme, a nationally backed quality assurance scheme that has our farmers, our food companies all together pulling towards the one set of standards that are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Trade Promotion (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: That front foot forward is exactly what I am doing in leading my Department. It is why I was in the US for a series of political meetings at Capitol Hill over a couple of days and meetings with other key clients and customers across the US. It is why I will travel to Asia next month. I continue to take those opportunities to tell the story of the innovation that Deputy Clendennen...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Water Quality (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I absolutely recognise the great work happening in the agricultural catchment programme. The most recently published EPA data shows nitrates concentrations nationally have reduced in a representative sample of our rivers last year. It is acknowledged and welcomed that nitrate levels have also reduced in the Timoleague catchment. Nitrates levels recorded in 2024 in Timoleague were at their...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Water Quality (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I appreciate the Deputy's articulation of the concerns, the great work of his constituents and the frustration I know there is on the ground with this change. He talked about rewarding his constituents. The best reward I can get his constituents and the farmers in the Timoleague catchment area is to make sure there is a derogation beyond the end of this year, and that is not by any means...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Animal Diseases (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy for raising a very important point, and he is not the only Deputy here this evening to raise points about bovine TB. It is a really challenging disease to control and eradicate. In recent years, bovine TB levels have continued to deteriorate here in Ireland. Herd incidence has increased from 4.31% in 2022 to 6.04% in 2024, resulting in a 36% increase in the number of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Animal Diseases (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I reassure the Deputy that everything that is possible is being considered and everything has been looked at. I have started an engagement with the farm organisations and key stakeholders since I was appointed in January, and since the February meeting of the TB forum I have been back and forth with them looking to get their feedback and submissions, having proposals that have come back...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Supports (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank both Deputies for their contributions. It is very important when we have questions on agriculture, food and the marine that CAP is at their heart because it really is so important to everything we are doing. To go to some earlier points about CAP and in particular, Deputy Kenny's, to have a longer CAP, a longer budget period would be needed because the budget drives the other. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Supports (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: No pressure there. Thanks for that. I jest. The Deputy is dead right that it is that serious.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Supports (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: It absolutely is. We know how well Irish agriculture has been served down through the years and through successive CAPS and the Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 structure. I have grave concerns around any attempt to change that. Not only do I have concerns for the impact on farming, which is why I will fight so hard to articulate the Irish position very clearly, but I also have concerns about the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Water Quality (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I recently met farmers from Timoleague and I visited the area previously when I was a Member of the previous Government. I am well aware of the great work that has happened down there, supported by Teagasc and others, how passionate farmers are and the pressure there is on land availability and how any changes can have an impact. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I have been on the record a number of times on this but I am happy to reassure farmers again that there is nothing to fear in the baseline rationality around GAEC 2. Farmers can continue to do all of their normal farming activity on a day-to-day basis. That is not going to be undermined by this. It is just a baseline requirement for the basic income support process, or what farmers would...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Supports (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 114 together. As Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I am working closely with the EU institutions and my counterparts in other member states to try to influence the next Common Agriculture Policy. The CAP is central to the EU’s success in ensuring food security, supporting farm incomes and developing rural areas. The CAP also...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter, which is topical after last week's announcements. The proposals for CAP simplification were published on 14 May by Commissioner Hansen. I welcome any proposals that will simplify and reduce the administrative burden for farmers and for national administrations. However, as with any new legislation, we will need to carefully examine the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The collection of sheep wool from farmers is a commercial arrangement between the sheep farmer and merchant. My Department does not have a role in collecting wool but I am aware that the price of wool has been at a low level for some time now. My Department has taken a number of steps to support Irish wool and to develop new markets. This included an in-depth study of the Irish wool...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible for the Nitrates Action Programme and the associated Regulations. However, my Department works very closely with his Department on the development of that Programme, and on the implementation of the Regulations. Indeed, given the importance of both improving water quality and securing Ireland’s Nitrates...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: In terms of putting things in context, and as the Deputy will be aware, 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...