Results 161-180 of 2,937 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fishing Industry (9 Mar 2023)

Martin Heydon: This is a matter that involves more than the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Department of Foreign Affairs has a key role to play. I will outline some of the interventions made by Government in recent times. As Taoiseach, the Minister, Deputy Martin, last discussed the matter of Rockall with Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, at the end of last year. It was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fishing Industry (9 Mar 2023)

Martin Heydon: I have clearly outlined the approach of the Government to this. We have a long-standing Government policy which has not changed. Our policy is very clear regarding the position of Rockall and we continue to engage diplomatically. We have a key role to play in our engagement with our partners in Scotland. I have outlined the steps that have been taken and which we will continue to take....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Forestry Sector (9 Mar 2023)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Barry for raising this matter. In its report "Navigating Change" the seafood task force included in its recommendations the introduction of a voluntary permanent cessation scheme. A condition specified by the task force was that the premium paid to vessel owners under this scheme would include crew costs. These crew payments were based on a provision in the European...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Forestry Sector (9 Mar 2023)

Martin Heydon: In regard to migrants, the scheme is, as I outlined, whether the crew member is a migrant or otherwise, fishers who worked at sea on board a vessel concerned by the permanent cessation, for at least 90 days per year in the last two calendar years. I will revert to the Deputy on the very specific nature of his questions. I do not have the response to that now. There are a number of terms...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (9 Mar 2023)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Canney for raising what is an important point. The areas of natural constraint, ANC, scheme is one of the most important supports for farmers. It helps to support and sustain agriculture in all four corners of Ireland and in the constituency the Deputy represents, as I am sure he is well aware. Those benefits trickle down to farmers' local communities as well. As a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (9 Mar 2023)

Martin Heydon: I take on board the point and can only imagine how stressful it is to deal with individual farmers who missed out on this. On the Deputy's request for a review, I reassure him that we constantly review the system and how we do it. However, we have to work within the constraints of EU regulations as well. The ANC tick-box screen was displayed before the farmer could select the "no change"...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (9 Mar 2023)

Martin Heydon: I take on board how serious this is for the farmers affected, and that is why we have so many safeguards in place between the extra pop-ups on the screen to point out to the farmer that they are potentially about to make a significant mistake. In the 2022 application process, my Department issued an information letter in April of that year. We also reviewed applications on an ongoing basis,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (9 Mar 2023)

Martin Heydon: Apologies from the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, for whom I am filling in today. Both I and the Government are fully committed to maintaining a viable sheep sector as an integral element of a balanced regional economy. Sheep farmers are very committed to producing a world-class, safe and sustainable product, and the Government recognises that. Market prices are a commercial matter between...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (9 Mar 2023)

Martin Heydon: This is an important issue and I am delighted it is the first priority question. I will answer the Deputy's last point first. We are looking at every option but, pardon the pun, the bar to qualify for the BAR, the Brexit adjustment reserve, is very high. You have to prove a direct link to the impact from Brexit. The Deputy's earlier point was about markets. As Minister of State with...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (9 Mar 2023)

Martin Heydon: The wool council is an industry-led approach. I understand it met before Christmas and is due to meet again soon. We will continue to work closely with it in its deliberations and on recommendations that come from there. Other work we have done in this area, including the support for early stage producer organisations, which will be introduced later this year, will strengthen the position...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Feb 2023)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy for raising this really important point because this is the time of year when sheep farmers' focus is on lambing their ewes. Right now, sheep farmers throughout the country are in their sheds with their ewes wondering what return they will get for their efforts and time in the months ahead. This is a really concerning time for them. Every sector across the country in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (22 Feb 2023)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Senator for raising what is an important issue. He articulated it in terms that I can understand. When he started referencing Kildare and municipal districts, I could see the benefit of municipal districts and how they have worked well to streamline the decision-making process, so I can understand his frustration. On behalf of my colleagues, the Minister of State, Deputy...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (22 Feb 2023)

Martin Heydon: I appreciate the points the Senator made and I accept his frustration in that regard. In each of the Dublin local authorities and on Cork and Galway city councils, where area committees exist, decisions can be made in local areas but, as he pointed out, those decisions have to then be brought forward to the council for further discussion. He made his point well on subsidiarity. We know...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (22 Feb 2023)

Martin Heydon: We even gave an obligatory mention to Athy because they are here.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legislative Measures (22 Feb 2023)

Martin Heydon: I wish the students good morning and it is great to have them here. On behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, I wish to thank Senator Clifford-Lee for raising this matter. I agree with her point that this is not a small matter and that it is important to people looking at it. In every debate we have to have little bit of balance and talk about all the impacts such a decision...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legislative Measures (22 Feb 2023)

Martin Heydon: First, this is not just the view of the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, but also the consensus view following the Dáil debate in 2018, when the issue was considered at length.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legislative Measures (22 Feb 2023)

Martin Heydon: Okay, but there was a debate of the entire House, and I do not think we should necessarily talk about what various parties said. There is a collective responsibility within the Government now that this is Government policy. The Senator can, by all means, raise the issue with the Minister for Health. Wearing my hat as Minister of State with responsibility for agriculture, I should pull up...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tax Code (22 Feb 2023)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter relating to an online advertising tax, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Finance. I understand that the Senator is referring to a tax in the same vein as a digital tax, which has been the subject of discussions in the area of international taxation over recent years. It is the long-held view of the Government that to ensure...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tax Code (22 Feb 2023)

Martin Heydon: I again thank the Senator for raising those points and note the frustration with which she articulated them. I will bring them back to the Minister for Finance. I did not necessarily expect the Senator to be happy with the response but, notwithstanding that, a global approach to address the challenges raised by digitalisation under Pillar 1 of the OECD agreement is preferable to unilateral...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Feb 2023)

Martin Heydon: The issue of import costs is a huge concern for us. That is why measures we have introduced across Government have been particularly targeted at supporting farmers. Last year we had the fodder scheme and more than €90 million of different interventions to support farmers in that regard. Government will continue to step in and provide support there. We have also supported farmers...