Results 481-500 of 4,255 for speaker:Martin Heydon

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

Martin Heydon: At present, Cork Port is designated a Border Control Post (BCP) for container shipments of wood and wood products only. The Port of Cork Company submitted a business case to my Department in October 2022 requesting approval for a full Border Control Post at the Port of Cork. Much of the benefit expected would accrue to the fruit, vegetable and organic sector. My Department considered...

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

Martin Heydon: Member States are required to perform official controls on live animals, plants, plant products and products of animal origin as required under the European Official Controls Regulation 625/2017. There are four designated BCPs in Ireland, located at Dublin Port, Dublin Airport, Rosslare Europort and Shannon Airport. The designation of BCPs must be approved by the EU Commission and...

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

Martin Heydon: I can confirm that I spoke via video conference call with my UK counterpart, Secretary of State, Steve Reed earlier this year. Our conversation was constructive, and covered topics including trade, bio-security and the importance of collaboration between our Departments on matters of mutual interest. We committed to engaging in the future to maintain and develop the strong relationship...

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

Martin Heydon: The main Global body of research on developing a vaccine for tuberculosis in bovine animals is being carried out by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in the UK. My Department continues to engage with colleagues in DEFRA and is monitoring this very closely. To date the biggest issue with a vaccine for cattle has been the lack of availability of a test that is...

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

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 720 and 721 together. The bTB eradication program is approved as an official category B disease under the EU Animal Health Law. Under this legislation, there are two officially recognised tests to detect infected cattle, which are the tuberculin skin test and the gamma interferon blood test. The tuberculin skin test is carried out by approved private...

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

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 722 and 725 together. Bovine TB is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. In recent years, bTB levels have continued to deteriorate. Our bTB Incidence rate in 2015 was 3.37% compared to 6.04% in 2024. As of 11 May 2025, over a 12 month period we had a herd incidence of 6.30% with over 42,200 reactors. I am committed to making real progress in...

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

Martin Heydon: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested. My Department is committed to ensuring that a skilled and motivated workforce is in place to meet its priority business needs. To achieve this, workforce planning is utilised in identifying and addressing the needs for all our locations. All critical staffing vacancies are filled as soon as...

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

Martin Heydon: It is readily feasible to apportion the cost of vaccinating or culling an individual badger. The expenditure on services and supplies supports the overall Badger Capture and Vaccination programme and cannot be apportioned between the capture and vaccination projects. There are fixed costs and variable costs in relation to the wildlife programme. which vary from year to year depending on...

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

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 726 and 727 together. We are continuing to pay annual premiums on the basis of the original contracts in wind blow cases. My Department is also currently considering the introduction of a Reconstitution Scheme to help these forest owners to replant. I want to reassure affected forest owners that they will not be disadvantaged by undertaking clearance or...

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

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 728 and 729 together. I recognise that storms Darragh and Éowyn have caused significant damage to forests around the country, with over 25,000 hectares windblown - the equivalent of two and a half years harvest. This presents an enormous challenge to all stakeholders in forestry. Over 11,000 hectares of private forests have been blown down. Most of...

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

Martin Heydon: As part of Budget 2025 my Department secured an allocation of €5 million for 2025 to provide support to the group of farmers commonly referred to as forgotten farmers. A first step in this process was to launch the online survey to assist in determining the number of farmers who meet the long-standing criteria for forgotten farmers. This scheme will be called the scheme to support...

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 Schemes (20 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. A total of €490 million has now issued since ACRES payments commenced at the end of 2023. In the case of the 2023 scheme...

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

Martin Heydon: The proposals for CAP simplification were published last week (14th 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 details of the proposals,and evaluate the potential impact for Ireland. It is worth...

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

Martin Heydon: The following table presents the information requested by the Deputy at this point in time. Please note this table includes cases where payment issued but the participant has since withdrawn from the scheme. County 2023 Balance not processed 2023 balance processed 2024 advance not processed (including 2023 not paid) 2024 advance processed ...

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: Fisheries Protection (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are matters for the Irish control authorities. Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, all operational issues concerning sea-fisheries control are, as a matter of law, exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service. Under the Act, I am...

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

Martin Heydon: My Department considers applications for aquaculture licences in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, the Foreshore Act 1933 (as amended) and applicable national and EU legislation. The licensing process involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisers as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation also provides for a...

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

Martin Heydon: My understanding is that the local infrastructure scheme operated by the Department of Community and Rural Development may provide for the kind of investment referred to by the deputy. I will pass the Deputy’s enquiry on to that Minister for direct reply.

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. The report of the Food Vision Tillage Group sets out a road map for the sustainable growth and development of the sector. It is a very...