Results 441-460 of 4,255 for speaker:Martin Heydon

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

Martin Heydon: European Innovation Partnership projects (EIPs) were introduced under Ireland’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the 2014-2022 Rural Development Programme (RDP). EIPs seek to address agricultural challenges by providing support to Operational Groups (OGs) comprised of a range of actors (farmers, academics, environmental groups, NGOs, etc.), to share knowledge, test innovative...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (20 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: Animal Diseases (20 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 Supports (20 May 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. Demographic challenges for the agricultural...

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

Martin Heydon: ACRES is the flagship environmental scheme provided under the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan, with €1.5 billion in Exchequer and EU funding allocated over the course of the scheme. Payments in respect of farmers' participation in the ACRES Scheme continue to issue on a weekly basis as cases pass all required validation checks. Last week, I announced that Balancing payments in...

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

Martin Heydon: The tillage sector is an integral part of Irish farming and makes a significant contribution to overall agricultural output. This Government recognises the importance of the sector and wants to grow the area under tillage crops in the years ahead. My Department has provided significant direct supports to tillage farmers. The financial allocation for coupled support under the Protein Aid...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (20 May 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. Demographic challenges for the agricultural...

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

Martin Heydon: Farmers are critical to conserving and restoring nature. My Department is supporting farmers in this work across many fronts. The Deputy may be aware that there are approx. 54,000 participating in our flag-ship Agri-environment scheme, ACRES. These farmers are undertaking actions that support nature, biodiversity and the environment. Both ACRES General and ACRES CP actions focus on...

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

Martin Heydon: ACRES is the flagship environmental scheme provided under the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan, with €1.5 billion in Exchequer and EU funding allocated over the course of the scheme. There are currently over 54,000 participants in ACRES. Payments in respect of ACRES continue to issue on a weekly basis as cases pass all required validation checks. Last week, I announced that balancing...

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

Martin Heydon: Under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) I am actively promoting gender equality, through several new initiatives, such as: An increased grant rate of 60% under the Women Farmer Capital Investment Scheme (WFCIS) to fund on-farm investments by trained women farmers (TAMS 3). Tranche 5 of the WFCIS received 225 applications, of which 147 approvals have been issued and 58 applications...

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

Martin Heydon: European Innovation Partnership projects (EIPs) were introduced under Ireland’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the 2014-2022 Rural Development Programme (RDP), and have been continued under the co-operation measure of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027. EIPs seek to address agricultural challenges by providing support to Operational Groups (OGs) comprised of a range of actors...

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

Martin Heydon: I am acutely aware of the complexity that has grown over the years in relation to farming. I have been, and continue to be, an advocate for simplification at the Council of Agriculture Ministers. This is both to ensure that the rules associated with farm payments can be applied in a practical way that recognises the realities of farming life and also the challenges for member states...

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

Martin Heydon: The most recent figures from Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) in their recently published Workforce Report indicates 3,564 registered veterinary practitioners veterinarians and 1,265 registered veterinary nurses in Ireland. 68.2% of registered veterinary practitioners were employed in clinical practice of whom 35.5% were working in mixed practices with 12.5% working in Farm Animal only...

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

Martin Heydon: Last month, I led an inward visit to the United States in conjunction with Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland which included meetings in Washington DC, Kentucky and Chicago. This visit was successful and timely as it gave a fantastic opportunity to highlight the importance of the two-way trading relationship between Ireland and the United States. I was also able to highlight Ireland’s...

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

Martin Heydon: The Green Cert programme is accredited by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the national agency responsible for validating education programmes in Ireland leading to QQI awards. It is delivered by public and private providers from across the further education system. My Department does not collate statistics on the number of persons who obtain the Green Cert. The Deputy is...

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

Martin Heydon: Bovine TB is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. In recent years, bTB levels have continued to deteriorate, herd incidence has increased from 4.94% in 2023 to 6.04% in 2024. As of 11th May 2025, over a 12-month period we had a herd incidence of 6.30% with over 42,200 reactors. This disease is having an impact on our farmers and their families emotionally and financially...

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

Martin Heydon: As Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I have no role in setting or controlling prices for any market commodity at either farm gate or retail level. Market prices for beef and other commodities are a commercial matter between suppliers and buyers which I have no role in determining.

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

Martin Heydon: My Department administers a wide array of measures and schemes aimed at promoting a viable, resilient and sustainable drystock sector. These supports consist of annual exchequer-funded and multi-annual EU co-funded schemes specifically tailored to the needs of farmers engaged in beef, sheep, dairy beef and mixed enterprises. In addition, there are many other supports, such as...

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

Martin Heydon: I am very conscious that the additional tariff rate of 10% on all imports to the US, in place since 9 April, directly impacts on the competitiveness of Irish agri-food exports on the US market. It makes Irish food and drink products more expensive for US consumers, who I have seen at first hand really value our premium Irish products. However, the 90 day pause on the US side in relation...