Results 141-160 of 3,570 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (27 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: The contract for delivering Equine National Breeding Services (NBS) on behalf of my Department was awarded to Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) following a competitive public procurement competition. The programme of measures delivered by HSI under the NBS includes a 'Breeding Grant' scheme. I understand from HSI that it is engaging directly with scheme applicants regarding the requirement for the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Cybersecurity Policy (27 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: For operational and security reasons, the Department has been advised by the National Cyber Security Centre not to disclose details which could, in any way, identify potential vulnerabilities in departmental cybersecurity arrangements.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Cybersecurity Policy (27 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: For operational and security reasons, my Department has been advised by the National Cyber Security Centre not to disclose details which could, in any way, identify potential vulnerabilities in Departmental Cyber-security arrangements.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (27 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (27 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: Following the most recent pay run, I can confirm that advance payments totalling €193.5 million have now been made to 44,939 farmers in respect of their participation in ACRES in 2024. This number represents 83% of all participants. Advance payments remain to be made to 9,316 participants across the two tranches. This means that €441 million has now been paid to ACRES...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Industry (27 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department considers applications for aquaculture and foreshore licences in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, as amended, the Foreshore Act 1933 (as amended), and applicable national and EU legislation. The licensing process involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisers as well as various Statutory Consultees. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (27 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: My department is funding social farming initiatives across the country. South Kerry Development Partnership currently has a contract with my Department for a Social Farming Model project to increase participant and host farmer engagement so that the social farming opportunity is available to more people in Kerry and to offer choice to people with disabilities to engage with farm families....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tax Reliefs (26 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Finance Act 2007 (Schedule 2B) sets out the list of approved qualifications that enable young, trained farmers to avail of certain tax reliefs and scheme payments. The inclusion of qualifications on this list is subject to specific criteria, including their level on the National Framework of Qualifications and the course content. Teagasc is responsible for assessing whether individual...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Correspondence (26 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. I am also acutely aware of the financial and emotional trauma associated with a TB breakdown, which causes significant hardship for farmers and farming families. I am fully committed to the objectives of the Bovine TB Eradication Strategy, which aims to reduce and, ultimately, eradicate this disease in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Issues (26 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department has been in contact with the person named in relation to their application. They submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (Agriculture) application for a Consent Decision in September 2024. As per EIA (Agriculture) S.I. No. 456 of 2011, this application was published on my Department’s website for a 30-day public consultation period. The consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (26 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together. Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Data Protection (26 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: I wish to assure the Deputy that my Department is fully aware of its requirements under Data Protection legislation, and is continuously working towards compliance with all aspects of the GDPR and the Data Protection Act. My Department has a Data Protection Unit in place to assist in meeting its compliance requirements. It also has a Data Protection Officer to provide advice and guidance...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: The National Sheep Welfare Scheme 2024 was in operation from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024. Payments under the scheme commenced in November 2024 to cleared cases, and thus far, €15.20 million has been paid to 16,336 participants in the scheme. Additional payments will continue to issue as cases are cleared for payment, including those selected for an on-farm inspection or a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Weather Events (26 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: A number of measures have already been introduced to assist people impacted by Storm Éowyn. I announced a targeted re-opening of the 2025 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector to deal only with growers proposing investments in response to the damage caused by the Storm. This targeted re-opening responded to the call for assistance to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: The person named submitted an application under the ACRES General stream and was approved into Tranche 1 of the scheme, with a commencement date of 1st January 2023. Payments in respect of scheme year 2023 have been finalised for this case. The 2024 advance payment has not yet been made due to an issue with the claim for Rotational Actions on the contract. My Department is working to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (26 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department takes its responsibilities for protecting animal welfare most seriously and strongly condemns any cruelty or mistreatment of animals. It should be noted that we have robust legislation in this country to protect the welfare of all animals and, in the case of pigs, there is sector-specific legislation in place which is based on existing EU rules. It is my Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: The family farm remains central to Irish agriculture, with women contributing in many different capacities. I recognise that policies must support greater gender equality. That is why a request for proposals to investigate “Women in Farming – Examining the visibility, equality and status of women in farming in Ireland” was included in my Department’s Policy and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: It is a key responsibility of Government to raise Ireland's concerns with our EU partners and to influence EU policy. For my part as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I meet with my counterparts in the Council of the European Union every month to discuss and shape agriculture and food policy in the EU. I have and will continue to engage with Christophe Hansen, the European...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: Taxation policy is primarily the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Finance. However, both Departments work closely to ensure taxation policy is consistent with Government priorities for the agri-food sector. The new Programme for Government prioritises “supporting inter-generational farm succession”. Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the agri-food...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (25 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: A total of €247.4 million has been paid to 42,631 participants (25,537 General and 17,094 Co-operation), or 95% of all ACRES participants, in respect of their participation in the Scheme in 2023. A further 2,302 farmers have yet to receive their final payments for 2023. Of these, 2,008 have already received an interim payment of either €4,000 or €5,000, respectively,...