Results 1,061-1,080 of 3,577 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (21 Sep 2021)

Martin Heydon: I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Defence who, unfortunately, cannot be present. The Minister, who is currently out of the country, has asked me to pass on his apologies to the House. On his behalf, I welcome the opportunity to respond to Senators Chambers and O'Loughlin on what is an important matter. The Minister and I have listened with concern to the women who recounted...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (21 Sep 2021)

Martin Heydon: I assure the Senators the Minister, the Government and the Defence Forces are committed to providing a safe place of work for all employees. It is important the Minister meets the programme's participants to listen to their views. I very much welcome that and take on board the points raised by the Senators in that regard. I reiterate that, irrespective of when such matters of a criminal...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Agriculture Schemes (15 Sep 2021)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputies Carthy and Cahill for raising this issue. As has been rightly outlined, 2019 was a very difficult year for beef farmers. There was a need for support to help them cope with market difficulties, which were largely driven by Brexit. That is why we fought hard to get money from Europe to establish the beef exceptional aid measure, BEAM, which ended up with €77 million...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Agriculture Schemes (15 Sep 2021)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputies for their supplementary points. The fact of the matter is that almost €72 million of the €77 million has gone to beef farmers. Some 19,000 farmers met the scheme's requirements and have exited the scheme because of that. Deputy Cahill is right in saying the scheme was not over-subscribed. It was under-subscribed. A number of beef farmers who were in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Farm Safety (15 Jul 2021)

Martin Heydon: The CAP is a fantastic opportunity for us to do that, but there other measures I have introduced over the past year. My Department and I launched a call under the locally led innovation partnership model, specifically related to farm safety and a first for farm safety, at the end of 2020. It will see the provision of at least €1 million in funding support for farm safety initiatives....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Farm Safety (15 Jul 2021)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Griffin for raising what is a crucially important issue for us and a very timely one in light of the fact that next week is Farm Safety Week, when we bring an additional focus to the need for farm safety and for a change in the culture across how we operate on our farms and the unacceptably high level of farm fatalities on Irish farms. To highlight the importance of farm...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Farm Safety (15 Jul 2021)

Martin Heydon: Absolutely. My general approach is to make sure that in everything we do, we do not talk about farm safety as a separate issue. Every engagement my Department has with farmers is an opportunity to drive home the message of farm safety and to support the work of the HSA and others. I have seen from the start the opportunity CAP provides for us to incorporate farm safety across all measures...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Industry (15 Jul 2021)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Durkan for raising this important point. As he will be aware, political agreement on CAP reform was reached at the end of June. The agreement strikes the right balance between ensuring a fair distribution of payments between farmers and achieving a higher level of environmental and climate ambition. This is a fair, flexible and farmer-friendly deal in the context of the many...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Industry (15 Jul 2021)

Martin Heydon: Absolutely. Deputy Durkan will be aware that the changes brought about by Brexit comprise entirely new ground for us. These are challenges that Irish agrifood businesses face. We in the Department are dealing with the agrifood businesses every day to make them as prepared as possible for all the next stages, with 1 October being another important date in the calendar for companies that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Industry (15 Jul 2021)

Martin Heydon: It is not possible to touch on all the points raised here in the minute I have. The points Deputies McNamara and Durkan raised are valid. They relate to all the challenges Brexit presents. My Department has been preparing for this eventuality since before the people of Britain voted to leave. We have been working extensively on it since. Part of the work has involved examining our...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Horticulture Sector (15 Jul 2021)

Martin Heydon: I would like to take the opportunity to reassure the Deputy that the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, and I are united in our determination to support the horticulture sector. As such, our Department provides support to the horticulture industry through the scheme of investment aid for the development of the horticulture sector. Financial support is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Horticulture Sector (15 Jul 2021)

Martin Heydon: As a Member of this House from County Kildare, I can assure the Deputy that the importance of the horticulture industry is something of which I am acutely aware. I have worked closely with what is a very strong amenity horticulture sector in my area. We are all aware of the importance of the sector. We should be mindful of the fact that the challenges we face now came about as a result of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (15 Jul 2021)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue for many people involved in the sheep trade. Wool production is an important component of the agri-industry. There are approximately 46,332 sheep flock-keepers registered on the database of my Department and departmental officials oversee and inspect 50 approved and registered wool stores where wool is held while awaiting sale....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (15 Jul 2021)

Martin Heydon: I am very interested to learn more about that co-operative approach. I assure the Deputy that although we sometimes get caught up in discussing brand new and shiny initiatives that have never been done before, as far as I am concerne, as Minister of State with responsibility for new market development, it is not about reinventing the wheel; it is actually about looking at indigenous elements...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (15 Jul 2021)

Martin Heydon: The Deputy is dead right that insulation is an area in which wool is used. It is also used in fabrics, carpeting, bedding and gardening. It makes an excellent compost. Another possibility for the use of wool is in the production of wood pellets, which is an excellent organic fertiliser. The current market uncertainties should act as an impetus for the industry players to come together, as...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Horticulture Sector (15 Jul 2021)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has no involvement in the regulation of peat extraction. As the Deputy outlined, this issue crosses several Departments. My Department does not have an involvement in the regulation of peat extraction. This is a planning process under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local...

Arrangements on the Order of Business: Motion (14 Jul 2021)

Martin Heydon: I move: That— (a) notwithstanding the Order of the Dáil of 16th December, 2020, the sequence in which Leaders shall be called upon to put questions between 15th September, 2021, and 7th October, 2021, pursuant to Standing Order 36(ca)shall be in accordance with the rota contained in the report of the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform dated 14th July, 2021,...

Planning and Development Act 2000 (Section 254 – Overground Telecommunication Cables) Regulations 2021: Referral to Joint Committee (14 Jul 2021)

Martin Heydon: I move: That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft, Planning and Development Act 2000 (Section 254 – Overground Telecommunication Cables) Regulations 2021, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 9th July, 2021, be referred to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in...

Planning and Development Act 2000 (Section 254 – Overground Telecommunication Cables) Regulations 2021: Motion (14 Jul 2021)

Martin Heydon: I move: "That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Section 254 – Overground Telecommunication Cables) Regulations 2021, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 9th July, 2021.”

Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (16 Jun 2021)

Martin Heydon: As we discuss the proposed new CAP today, it is important to take a moment to acknowledge the vital role it has played and will continue to play in the future for Irish agriculture and for farm families. The CAP protects family farm incomes, supports the rural economy, ensures the production of high-quality safe food for consumers and protects rural landscapes and the environment. It is not...