Results 1,021-1,040 of 3,577 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Educational Disadvantage (10 Mar 2022)

Martin Heydon: In the draft response I received, there was no reference to Scoil Na Naomh Uilig but I will bring it back to the Minister's office. The school will have the appeals mechanism there. I emphasise that the DEIS programme focuses on targeting additional resources towards schools with the highest concentration of students at risk of educational disadvantage. The Department is committed to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Agriculture Industry (8 Mar 2022)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputies for their follow-up questions. To respond to Deputy Colm Burke regarding the EU response and the deviation in crop rotation, these issues are being looked at and the potential response to them will be worked through. Everything is being examined at EU level. There is also the area of set-aside being talked about, as well as the ecological focus areas, EFAs. If they...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Agriculture Industry (8 Mar 2022)

Martin Heydon: I will start by thanking Deputies Burke and Cairns for raising this important issue. The illegal invasion of Ukraine places the people of Ukraine and the dreadful plight the currently face foremost in our minds. The related grain and fertiliser supply issues have led to discussions across Europe on the issue of food security and the associated disruptions to supply lines. These issue...

National Broadband Plan: Statements (27 Jan 2022)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputies for their contributions throughout what has been a very important process, not just the statements in the last hour or so but the questions and answers with the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, prior to that. I thank the House on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, for the invitation to address the House on the roll-out of the national broadband plan and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (9 Dec 2021)

Martin Heydon: There have been a number of changes, many of which are in the hands of the UK. The UK has been changing the goalposts by pushing them out. It has postponed the next stage of the import control regime on two occasions, including on 14 September. The most significant element of the most recent UK announcements was that the requirement for pre-notification of agrifood imports will be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (9 Dec 2021)

Martin Heydon: We could do with half an hour for this debate because there is so much to cover in it. To respond first to the Deputy's last point, we have seen exponential growth in sailings and movement of Irish goods directly to mainland Europe, specifically France, because of the challenges with the land bridge, but the land bridge is still important. That is an example of everything we are doing in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Exports Growth (9 Dec 2021)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy for his question and ongoing interest in this area. While the immediate threat of Brexit may have passed, we must continue to prepare for the full reality of our new trading relationship with our nearest neighbour. The promotion of Ireland's high-quality, safe, nutritious and sustainably produced food is a core objective of my Department and the relevant Government...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Exports Growth (9 Dec 2021)

Martin Heydon: The Deputy is dead right. There are significant synergies. There is a need for interdepartmental co-operation and co-operation with our State agencies. I am aware of several Ireland House-type arrangements, particularly in the EU, whereby the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia are all in under the one area. In recent years in my Department,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Exports Growth (9 Dec 2021)

Martin Heydon: Both Deputies are right. Already, about one third of our food and drink exports go to the EU. There is potential for further growth. I witnessed that at first hand when I attended the Anuga Food Fair in Cologne in October. The European team of Bord Bia was there engaging with many companies across the spectrum. When Deputy Carthy talked about the premiumisation of the market, he was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (9 Dec 2021)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy again. Brexit has presented a range of challenges for the agrifood and fisheries sectors. The trade and co-operation agreement reached between the European Union and the United Kingdom at the end of 2020 did, however, provide some welcome certainty around the future EU–UK trading relationship, including in respect of tariff-free trade. The fact that the UK is no...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Services (18 Nov 2021)

Martin Heydon: It is important to state the Government acknowledges the vital role GPs have played, particularly during the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and, more generally, in providing essential healthcare in the community. We, as a Government, are committed to ensuring that patients across the country continue to have access to GP services, including out-of-hours services such as those the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Services (18 Nov 2021)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue and one which, I know from my discussions with him, is of major concern to him and his constituents in Cork. Under the general medical services, GMS, contract, GPs must be available to provide services in their practice premises or by way of domiciliary visits, as appropriate, for their medical card and GP visit card patients for 40 hours...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Animal Diseases (11 Nov 2021)

Martin Heydon: I thank Senator Cummins for raising this issue,which is important nationally but obviously in the area of Waterford in particular, as the Senator has outlined. I am acutely aware of the financial and emotional burden faced by farmers after a TB breakdown. We must do everything we can, working together as a sector, to tackle this problem. I come from a suckler farm in south Kildare and I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Animal Diseases (11 Nov 2021)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Senator for his detailed supplementary reply. I will look at that parliamentary response he received from the Minister, Deputy McConalogue. If there is a discrepancy between the numbers, it is important to note that the figures I have today do not include staff members on different types of leave. However, there is a sizeable gap between those two numbers, so I will check that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Industry (10 Nov 2021)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Senator for raising the important issue of the viability of the sheep sector and its importance to our overall agricultural and rural economies, and our food production and exports. I am pleased to see that the strong performance of the sheep sector in 2020 has continued into 2021 in terms of overall prices. It is good to see the market providing returns which goes some way to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Industry (10 Nov 2021)

Martin Heydon: The Senator is right. The role of the Government is to support sheep farmers in the very important work they do. With every reference year there are hard cases and challenges. It is definitely to the benefit of farmers that we move the reference year from 2014-15 to 2017 because it will bring in more ewes. The terms of reference for the wool feasibility study involve the identification of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Martin Heydon: I acknowledge the Senator's passion for farm safety and the engagement I have had with him on his proposed Bill. I acknowledge the meetings we have had on farm safety. It is a topic very close to his heart. There is no single action that can solve the problem. If it were easily solved, the unacceptably high rate of fatalities on Irish farms would have been addressed long before now. It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Martin Browne for his contribution. I am a suckler farmer based in south Kildare, with a mixed enterprise involving tillage, and I am acutely aware of what the Deputy has outlined. On hoping that the €2 million will be enough, to be honest this is not all about money. Much of what is involved is a change of culture and ensuring that all of us in the farming set-up,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Carthy for his points and questions. I agree, and I acknowledge the cross-party consensus on farm safety. We all want to see success in this area and it is one of those issues where political differences remain outside the door because we are all in the same boat. We all know of families in our constituencies that have been impacted by farm safety incidents. I assure the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Martin Heydon: The charter is a valuable document in terms of the role it plays in recognising the importance of farmers as equal stakeholders in this process. My experience is that the charter is fully upheld. If there are incidents where farmers believe that has not been the case, I ask them to come forward and let us know. The charter was drawn up in consultation with the farming organisations and...