Results 61-80 of 5,025 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Veterinary Services (4 Nov 2025)

Martin Heydon: Animal welfare is a priority for me, as Minister, and for the Government. The Animal Welfare Grants Programme provides considerable support for animal welfare charities to assist them in their vital work in rescuing and re-homing animals. In November 2024, funding of almost €6 million was provided to 101 animal welfare charities nationwide including an award of €6,175 to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Properties (4 Nov 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department does not have any unoccupied or derelict buildings in Westmeath. As regards the 13 State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (4 Nov 2025)

Martin Heydon: As part of the EU-UK Summit in May 2025, the EU and UK have outlined a commitment to working towards the establishment of a common SPS area under a future EU-UK SPS Agreement. At present, negotiations have not commenced and the negotiating mandate authorising the opening of negotiations between the EU and UK is currently being finalised. There are long established and mutually beneficial...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (4 Nov 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) announced in April 2024 that it had updated its Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Practitioners to prohibit veterinarians from carrying out surgical artificial insemination in dogs due to ethical and welfare considerations. However, this new prohibition does not apply to greyhounds, as the practice is provided for in legislation under the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (4 Nov 2025)

Martin Heydon: The scheme to support Long Established Young Farmers, more commonly referred to as "forgotten farmers", closed for submission of online applications on 13th August 2025. There were 1,254 applications submitted under the scheme by the closing date. These applications are currently being assessed and applicants will be notified of the outcome in due course. The allocation of €5...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (4 Nov 2025)

Martin Heydon: Since the time my Department was first approached in 2015 with regard to the group commonly referred to as "forgotten farmers", the group was defined as young farmers who were under the age of 40 in 2015, had established their holdings prior to 2008 and were not eligible for young farmer supports under the CAP from 2015. The request for support for this category of farmers 2015 was for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Prices (4 Nov 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department has no role in determining or intervening in prices for food commodities at farm-gate or retail level. Market prices are a matter between suppliers and buyers. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) reports monthly on Agricultural Output Prices, trends in prices paid to farmers for their produce, and Agricultural Input Prices, trends in prices paid by farmers for purchases of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (4 Nov 2025)

Martin Heydon: A total of over €517.2m has issued to date to participants of the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES). Payments in respect of scheme year 2025 to participants in Meath and across the country are due to commence in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (4 Nov 2025)

Martin Heydon: As part of the EU-UK Summit in May 2025, the EU and UK have outlined a commitment to working towards the establishment of a common SPS area under a future EU-UK SPS Agreement. At present, negotiations have not commenced, and the negotiating mandate authorising the opening of negotiations between the EU and UK is currently being finalised. The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (4 Nov 2025)

Martin Heydon: I published the “Bovine TB Action Plan, Addressing Bovine TB in Ireland” on 9 September 2025. The Action Plan follows extensive discussions with stakeholders and the support and approval from my Cabinet colleagues to address the current high levels of Bovine TB (bTB). The Action Plan is based on scientific research and veterinary expertise. There are 5 measures which are...

Fisheries: Statements (22 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputies for their engagement in what is a really important debate on the issues in respect of fisheries. The concern in all our coastal communities, as raised by Deputies, is very evident, particularly in Donegal and Cork where fishing is such an intrinsic part of our economic activity, as it is in Waterford and Dublin - the latter which is sometimes forgotten in terms of costal...

Fisheries: Statements (22 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: My officials are taking note of all the questions.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (22 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 126 together. The European Commission has published its proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period 2028–2034. These proposals represent a significant structural change, as it is proposed that the CAP will form part of the broader National and Regional Partnership Plan...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (22 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: While Ukraine has been granted EU candidate status and accession negotiations have formally commenced, the European Commission’s published proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2028–2034 do not assume Ukraine’s full membership during this period. The Commission has, however, acknowledged that future enlargement of the Union, including Ukraine’s...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Payments (22 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: The person named submitted an application under the ACRES Co-operation stream and was approved into Tranche 2 of the scheme, with a commencement date of 1st January 2024. The issue that had been preventing this case from passing the required validations for the Advance payment for 2024 has been identified, and my Department is actively working on resolving this issue in order to progress...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (22 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: Bovine TB is an ongoing challenge for Irish farmers. I am acutely aware of the emotional and financial impacts of bovine TB on farmers, their families and rural Ireland. My Department provides a range of financial supports that focus on compensating farmers for both direct and indirect losses incurred as a result of a TB breakdown on the farm. The primary support scheme is the On Farm...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (22 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department leads the One Health All Ireland for European Surveillance (OH-ALLIES) project which has received EU funding to set up a coordinated surveillance system under the One Health approach for cross-border pathogens that threaten the Union. One of the strategic objectives of this project is to establish infrastructure and processes allowing enhanced surveillance of influenza in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Artificial Intelligence (22 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department is not using agentic AI in projects, contracts, or pilots currently being undertaken or in development. All current and future AI use cases are subject to human review, data protection and governance measures. My Department is committed to ensuring that any use of AI is informed by an assessment of any potential human rights and equality implications, with a need for careful...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Contracts (22 Oct 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: Animal Welfare (21 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department takes the matter of animal welfare most seriously and is committed to the enforcement of the Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013. Prosecutions under the Act are pursued following investigations by authorised officers who investigate matters relating to animal cruelty and neglect. Offences under the Act may be prosecuted in the District Court by the Minister for Agriculture,...