Results 1-20 of 2,937 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Weather-Related Supports for Farmers: Statements (Resumed) (24 Apr 2024)

Martin Heydon: The Deputy paints a picture of industrialisation.

Weather-Related Supports for Farmers: Statements (Resumed) (24 Apr 2024)

Martin Heydon: I am sure that plays well in Tallaght.

Weather-Related Supports for Farmers: Statements (Resumed) (24 Apr 2024)

Martin Heydon: I too would like to welcome our friends from Estonia. It is great to have them here. I hope they learn a bit about the challenges and opportunities we face in our agriculture sector, which is so important to the Irish economy. This spring has been unlike many others. There is a saying that farmers need to be optimists or they would not still be farmers, but the optimistic streak in our...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Apr 2024)

Martin Heydon: I am happy that we have a number of hours in the House this afternoon for statements on weather-related supports for farmers throughout the country. I am mindful of the desperate plight of farmers during a very difficult winter and spring. The initial fodder support we have put in place through our co-operative system is to support the movement of fodder that is in the country from areas...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Senator Horkan for raising this important issue. I too know people close to me who have suffered from shingles. It can have a debilitating impact. As is outlined in the response I have, which I will deliver on behalf of the Minister for Health who is unable to make it today, it can have serious implications, particularly for older people. Varicella is a common, highly...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Senator. As already stated, I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Health. Unfortunately, the funding details Senator Horkan requested have not been provided. However, I am led to believe that funding is not the key consideration here. We obviously have a national immunisation programme that is well funded. If the strong opinion NIAC comes to at the end of its review...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank Senator Kyne for raising this important issue. It is important to put the first-hand story of his constituent's experience on the record of House. What he outlined is not good enough. I am giving this response on behalf of the Minister for Health, who, unfortunately, cannot be here. The Minister and his officials have visited the University Hospital Galway campus on a number of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I again thank the Senator for raising this. The response I was given by the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, does not have clear timelines in it. It does have a process. In fairness, it can be hard to predict specific timelines in each stage of the process. That has potential for delays. I will outline further in the supplementary reply I have that the proposals are...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue, no more so for those who are in need of dialysis in County Clare. I am giving this response on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, who unfortunately cannot be here, for what continues to be a very important issue for the people of Clare and the mid-west. First, I would like to reassure the Senator that the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Inshore Fisheries (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Senator for raising what is a really important issue. I am responding on behalf of the Minster, who is unable to be here. As the Senator will be aware, Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI, is the State body with responsibility for the protection, management, conservation, promotion, marketing and development of the inland fisheries resource. Officials in the Department of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Inshore Fisheries (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank Senator Ahearn again for raising this really important issue. I regret IFI was not in a position, from the time that elapsed since the Senator tabled this important topic, to provide that requested information on the number of calls. However, we will follow up on that and get back to the Senator. Also, I have a detailed breakdown of the number of prosecutions, penalty notices and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Pension Provisions (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank Senator Davitt for raising this issue. I understand the question relates to the standard fund threshold regime and how it applies to different types of pensions and, in particular, the defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes. As Senator Davitt is aware, Ireland operates an exempt tax system for the taxation of pension funds. This means the contributions to pensions...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Pension Provisions (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank Senator Davitt for the opportunity to speak to the House on the issue. Unfortunately, the Minister was unable to be here. As I outlined, the SFT limit applies to all types of pensions in both the private and public sectors. However, it is the case that the valuation methodology for applying SFT varies between defined contribution and defined benefit schemes, as I have already...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tourist Accommodation (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank Senator Chambers for raising what is an important issue and I offer this response on behalf of the Minister for tourism, Deputy Martin, who is unable to be here today. I will, first, attest to the many fine qualities of Mayo as a tourism destination, having holidayed there myself with my family on a number of occasions and always found it a brilliant place to holiday in. The...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tourist Accommodation (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: The importance of the tourism sector to the Irish economy and communities across Ireland is understood well by Government. The role of the Minister, her Department and Fáilte Ireland is to support the tourism industry and work for the sustainable development of Ireland as a high-quality and competitive tourism destination. Fáilte Ireland provides a range of practical business...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: That was the information in the reply given to me. Unfortunately, the response does not contain clear timelines. With any matters such as these, there is the potential, through statutory processes, for delays. It can be hard to earmark exact timelines but I reiterate that the Government remains fully committed to improving health services. We have demonstrated that commitment with strong...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Services (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I can imagine how frustrating this process has been for the people of Clogh and Moneenroe, as well as for the Deputy, as a public representative for the area. Obviously, the Minister is unable to be here and I am offering this response in his place. As the Deputy will understand, the supply of public water and the provision of water...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Services (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I accept Deputy McGuinness's bona fides on this issue and I am a firm believer in the parliamentary process. Notwithstanding that the response I am delivering today is similar to one he received previously, the squeaky wheel does get the oil. If the Deputy, as a Member of this House, continues to raise a matter here, that does have an impact. It is heard by Ministers, officials and the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Projects (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: Again, I thank Deputy Sherlock for raising this important point. I completely understand the need and desire to see progress in this area. Unfortunately, if we are to continue the analogy with Athy, we were a long time waiting as it is a slow process that is exceedingly frustrating for everybody who is impacted. Public representatives have to stick with it and continue to highlight the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Heritage Sites (28 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Durkan for raising these pertinent points which are hugely important to the constituents he represents in Kildare North. He and I agree that growing the numbers of visitors to Castletown House and estate is in everyone’s interest. It is a fantastic facility. We want more people to enjoy it and learn about it. The move to active travel for visitors will result in...