Results 101-120 of 4,911 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Budget 2026 (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Programme for Government prioritises “supporting inter-generational farm succession”. Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the agri-food sector, states that generational renewal in farming is critically important to ensure the future viability and social sustainability of the Irish agri-food sector and of rural Ireland. There are a number of supports for...

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

Martin Heydon: I am fully aware of the volatile nature of farm income. Irish agricultural output prices and input costs are sensitive to geopolitical and global economic factors, as well as more localised factors such as weather conditions. This can lead to significant variations in income from year to year. There are currently a number of measures, both through the €9.8 billion CAP Strategic Plan...

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

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

Martin Heydon: Non-Productive Investments (NPIs) are a range of complementary actions available to participants in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) Co-operation (CP) approach. The purpose of NPIs is to enable participants to enhance their holdings from an environmental perspective, which may result in their land achieving a higher score and, in turn, an increase in the level of their core...

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

Martin Heydon: My Department carried out 20 official controls in raw milk testing laboratories in 2024. These controls related to total bacterial count and somatic cell count testing carried out to verify compliance with the legal criteria set out in Regulation EC (No) 853 of 2004. Minor recommendations were made in two cases. There is no legal requirement or basis for my Department to monitor the...

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

Martin Heydon: In 2006, the EU introduced a restructuring mechanism intended to reduce overall production of sugar, acknowledging the then global over supply and resultant low prices. Ireland received €353 million as part of the reform package with some €220 million being distributed to beet growers and a further €6 million to machinery contractors in the sector. In 2025, 9,600ha of...

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

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 728 and 729 together. The Programme for Government prioritises supporting inter-generational farm succession. Supporting young farmers is critical to ensure a vibrant and sustainable agri-food sector. There is a range of supports available for generational renewal, including initiatives under the current CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), a strong suite of taxation...

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

Martin Heydon: My Department has been quick to take action in light of the suspected highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak near Omagh, Co. Tyrone. This includes close engagement with Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, convening a meeting between my Department and poultry industry stakeholders, and issuing a technical update bulletin to stakeholders on...

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

Martin Heydon: I published the Bovine TB Action Plan, “Addressing Bovine TB in Ireland”, on 9 September. The Action Plan follows extensive discussions with stakeholders in recent months. I also received support and approval from Cabinet on 24 June to address the current high levels of Bovine TB (bTB). The Action Plan is based on scientific research and veterinary expertise. There are five...

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

Martin Heydon: The rules regarding the eligibility for payments of all agricultural lands, including uplands, have been designed to ensure that maximum flexibility is given to farmers so that they can choose the most appropriate methods for their own lands. This allows farmers and their advisors to ensure that management practices chosen suit the particular habitats that exist on their lands. While most...

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

Martin Heydon: Almost €517.2 million has now issued to participants in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), of which over €267.7 million has issued in respect of participation in 2024. The following table presents the breakdown of the remaining participants awaiting payment for 2024. General CP Total 389 900 1,289 ...

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

Martin Heydon: The use of sulkies on public roads specifically, as with the use of all vehicles, including animal-drawn vehicles, is governed by the relevant provisions of the Roads and Road Traffic Acts. Reviews of this legislation would be a matter for the Minister for Transport. The drivers of all vehicles used on public roads, including horse-drawn carriages, are required to comply with road traffic...

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

Martin Heydon: Ireland's €258m Seafood Development Programme, which is co-funded by the Irish Government and EU Commission under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027, is the primary source of funding for the Irish commercial seafood sector. The EMFAF Regulation sets out the measures which are eligible for funding. Relevant EU state aid Regulations for the...

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

Martin Heydon: In line with Government policy, my Department prioritises the use of central arrangements (including frameworks) where suitable. My Department avails of frameworks put in place by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) and the Education Procurement Service (EPS). My Department currently does not have any of its own frameworks with a mini-competition award mechanism in place. As these...

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

Martin Heydon: In line with Government policy, my Department prioritises the use of central arrangements (including frameworks) where suitable. My Department avails of frameworks put in place by the OGP (Office of Government Procurement) and the EPS (Education Procurement Service). When using such frameworks and where environmental and social considerations are in scope, tenderers are required to...

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

Martin Heydon: My Department publishes a quarterly report on the Purchase Orders over €20,000 in line with the requirements under the Freedom of Information Act 2014. The details of the report are taken from my Department’s electronic records of payments made in that quarter. This information is recorded on a financial management system (FMS) operated by SAP, a multinational software company....

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

Martin Heydon: The processing of equine passport applications is an operational matter for the seven approved passport issuing organisations (PIOs). My Department emphasises the importance of timely issuing of equine passports and will engage with PIOs where necessary if unacceptable delays are being experienced.

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

Martin Heydon: I am acutely aware of the volatile nature of farm income and the challenges of meeting our climate obligations. Irish agricultural output prices and input costs are sensitive to geopolitical and global economic factors, as well as more localised factors. This can lead to variations in income from year to year. I am supporting beef and dairy farmers through a combination of targeted...

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

Martin Heydon: There is significant engagement and action across the agri-food sector in relation to improving water quality and reducing emissions. The Government remains committed to seeking a continuation of Ireland's nitrates derogation and improving water quality. The Nitrates Regulations form the baseline for reducing agricultural nutrient losses and improving water quality. However,...

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

Martin Heydon: My Department is supporting farmers in the critical work that they undertake in conserving and restoring nature, across many fronts. My colleague the Minister of State for Nature, Heritage & Biodiversity has lead responsibility for the development of Ireland's Nature Restoration Plan . The Deputy may be aware that I secured an increased allocation of €280m funding in the...