Results 21-40 of 2,944 for speaker:Martin Heydon

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...

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

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Sherlock for raising this important issue on national secondary routes and, in particular, the Mallow relief road. As he outlined, I am giving this response on behalf of the Minister for Transport, who is unable to be here. The Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding with regard to the national roads programme. Once funding...

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

Martin Heydon: I offer this response on behalf of the Minister, who is unable to attend this morning. I thank Deputy Durkan for his ongoing interest in Castletown House. As a fellow Kildare man, I know of the huge emotion and upset there is around developments in the area around Castletown House and estate. In recent months, Deputy Durkan has made continuous representations through parliamentary...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I will respond to Deputy Danny Healy-Rae. Let us not do a disservice to farmers, who are doing a great deal in respect of nature restoration. What farmer does the Deputy know who does not want to see better biodiversity, improved water quality and lower emissions in his or her area? Farmers are working towards all of that as well as producing top-quality food. There is no need for...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: Enough scaremongering, Deputy.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (22 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: The Deputy is right in saying there is a range of agricultural reliefs. Some of these we take for granted, but if anything were ever to happen to the agricultural relief for young farmers, stamp duty relief and consanguinity duty relief, through which €274 million was provided in support in 2022, we would know very quickly how big a devastating impact that would have. I mention the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Farm Safety (22 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I share with the Deputy in offering condolences to the families of those affected in that awful tragedy on Tuesday. There are other initiatives. I see my role in farm safety as not just involving the physical form of farm safety but the mental health and well-being of farmers. My Department continues to support research into farmer health and well-being. The DCU-led farm health...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Farm Safety (22 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: Absolutely. Promotion is a key part of my role. In the children's farm safety initiative in schools, in conjunction with Agri Aware, we are using the positive pester power of children. The Deputy is well aware, as I am, that when children decide they want something, they do not leave you alone until they get it. Instead of me pleading with my uncle to get on top of a very dangerous load...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (22 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy for raising what is a critical issue for the future of farming and agriculture. Supporting generational renewal is one of our main priorities as Ministers. It is also one of the great challenges facing farming, not just in Ireland but across the EU. Worldwide, the average age of farmers is higher than everyone would like it to be. For this reason, the Common...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Farm Safety (22 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Griffin for raising a really important issue. Due to the prevalence of farm safety issues and farm workplace incidents, farmers are the most likely workers to lose their lives. Farming is the most dangerous profession in Ireland. A farmer is seven times more likely to lose their life in a workplace incident than any other one of the more than 2.5 million workers in this...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (22 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Kerrane for raising this very important issue. I remind the House that the rationale behind the establishment of this new element of TAMS was to further develop gender equality throughout the agriculture sphere, to encourage more capital investment on farms and, in many instances, to recognise the role that many females already play on farms throughout the country, in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (22 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy Kerrane. We keep a constant review on all elements of TAMS. It does evolve. There are no plans at present to change eligibility criteria for the women farmers' capital investment scheme or any other element of TAMS, but TAMS 3, as were previous TAMS, has been monitored and followed through with regard to how we might change it. With regard to the point on the work...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (22 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: The officials are making good progress through them. We hope to have them all cleared in early April. Good progress is being made in this regard. I acknowledge the work of the Women in Agriculture Stakeholders Group, which has led the way on this. We were very happy to work on its early proposals. As things evolve and change, we keep an eye on its requests. To go back to the...

Death of Former Taoiseach: Expressions of Sympathy (7 Feb 2024)

Martin Heydon: It is a privilege to be a Member of this House and to listen to the contributions of Members in honour of John Bruton. It is an even greater privilege to get to contribute. I want to make three brief points. As somebody whose political career began when John had retired from his, I am struck on reflection by how many times I met with, listened to and engaged with John Bruton during my...