Results 81-100 of 4,911 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: At the most recent AgriFish Council meeting, held in Brussels in September 2025, I took the opportunity to underline that the proposed governance and structure of the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) represent a major change in how the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will operate, with the introduction of the National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs) replacing the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Water Pollution (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: Firstly, my colleague Minister Browne is responsible for the Nitrates Regulations along with other water related Regulations including the Water Framework Directive and development of Ireland's River Basin Management Plan. In relation to the fish kill in the River Blackwater, an inter-agency group was set up to investigate this, led by Inland Fisheries Ireland and consisting of relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Control of Dogs (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: On 1 June 2025, all policy and legislative responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts transferred to my Department from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG). It must be noted that Local Authorities retain responsibility for all operational, implementation and enforcement matters under the Acts. I believe it is important for dog owners to be aware of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: Irish Whiskey is a Geographical Indication registered with the European Commission and must be produced in accordance with the Irish Whiskey Technical File. The Irish Whiskey Technical File does not currently require the use of Irish Grain in the production of Irish Whiskey. The process of amending the Irish Whiskey Technical File is currently underway and two submissions are being...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (14 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. In recent years we have seen a significant increase in bTB levels nationally, with over 6,000 farm families affected by a TB outbreak in 2024, when herd incidence stood at 6.04%. Over the last few months, I have undertaken...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Policy (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department welcomes the recent ESRI research which shows that farmers are just as concerned about climate change as those in urban areas. It reflects the strong awareness and commitment already evident across the farming community to protect the environment and their livelihoods. Adaptation to climate change in agriculture includes everything from researching new production systems to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tillage Sector (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130, 131 and 149 together. I fully recognise the pressures facing the tillage sector, not least the very challenging market outlook and downward price pressure this season, and I have recently engaged directly with the farming organisations to hear their concerns. This Government recognises the importance of the tillage sector and wants to grow the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: Applications received under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and other area-based schemes are required to go through a series of verification checks before an application can be deemed eligible to draw down payment. These checks include, but are not limited to, late applications, active farmer, land eligibility, agricultural activity, land at disposal and, where applicable,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: Animal welfare is a key priority for me as Minister and for the Government. 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. Awards are made on the basis of objective criteria,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (14 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. In recent years we have seen a significant increase in bTB levels nationally, with over 6,000 farm families affected by a TB outbreak in 2024, when herd incidence stood at 6.04%. I secured an increased allocation of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: On 30th September the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) published a report on the Bovine TB Eradication Programme as part of the Report of the Accounts of the Public Services 2024. The examination was undertaken to review:the factors that contributed to the recent increase in the incidence of bovine TB in Ireland,whether the programme is operating as intended and is efficient in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Control of Horses (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department is responsible for all policy and legislation in relation to the Control of Horses Act 1996. Operation of the Act comes under the remit of Local Authorities. Under the Control of Horses Act 1996, local authorities may take a range of actions in relation to equines, including prohibiting horses in certain areas, issuing licences and seizing horses in contravention of the Act....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tillage Sector (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: I regularly engage with farmer representative bodies relating to tillage matters. I have met with the organisation referred to on several occasions since my appointment, including through attendance at its AGM, through pre-budget engagement and in the context of a meeting organised by the Irish Farmers Association on 12th September. I fully recognise the pressures currently facing the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: Along with the Tánaiste who has lead responsibility for trade policy, I have actively engaged with both the European Commission and other Member States across the EU to voice Ireland’s concerns in relation to the EU-Mercosur Agreement. Ireland has serious concerns on the preferential access being given to Mercosur if South American farmers are not subject to the same...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Livestock Issues (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: In recognition of the importance of the drystock sector, I have secured € 131 million in Budget 2026 for the various livestock schemes. Consistent with the Government’s commitment to protect and enhance farm incomes, my Department is providing a wide range of supports aimed at promoting a viable, resilient and sustainable drystock sector. These supports consist of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Government is committed to seeking to retain Ireland's nitrates derogation along with the dual objective of improving Irish water quality. At the Nitrates Committee meeting in December 2024, my Department advised that in accordance with the Nitrates Directive, Ireland wished to apply for permission to continue applying in excess of 170 kg of livestock manure Nitrogen per hectare from...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hedge Cutting (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department will continue to support farmers in respect of hedgerows, and the many co-benefits they provide, through our CAP Strategic Plan (CSP). Hedgerows act as vital habitats and corridors for pollinators, birds and other wildlife, and play a key role in contributing to Ireland’s biodiversity and environmental ambitions. My Department’s stakeholder led agri-food...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: In general, trade agreements are positive in their outcome from an EU and Irish perspective and provide further opportunities to find premium markets around the globe for Ireland's quality food and drinks products, given the sector's strong export focus. However I am clear that trade agreements must defend our most vulnerable sectors and that our farmers’ livelihoods cannot be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: The county breakdown of applications to Beef Welfare Scheme 2025 is as follows: County Total Applications CARLOW 313 CAVAN 1204 CLARE 1894 CORK 1669 DONEGAL 1532 DUBLIN 60 GALWAY 3019 ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Government is committed to seeking to retain the nitrates derogation along with the dual objective of improving water quality. As the Deputy will be aware, at the Nitrates Committee meeting in December 2024, my Department advised that in accordance with the Nitrates Directive, Ireland wished to apply for permission to continue applying in excess of 170 kg of livestock manure Nitrogen...