Results 1-20 of 2,969 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Jul 2024)

Martin Heydon: I assure the Deputy that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine takes animal welfare extremely seriously.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Jul 2024)

Martin Heydon: There are a number of cases, some of them historical, relating to that particular matter. They are before the courts at the minute, which restricts what we can say. The scenes we saw on the "RTÉ Investigates" programme were unacceptable. We have acted swiftly. Actions were in place prior to that because concerns had been raised. Work is ongoing to ensure that the highest standards...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Flood Relief Schemes (25 Jun 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Buckley for raising this important issue. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility who, unfortunately, is not able to be here. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, recently visited Midleton and the east Cork region. He had an opportunity to meet with Cork County Council and local communities and residents to discuss the flooding...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Health Services (25 Jun 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to address the House on this issue. I send apologies on behalf of the Minister for Health who was unable to take this matter. I offer this response in his place on what I know is a very important issue for the people of Clare and the mid-west region. Haemodialysis is a life-sustaining treatment. However, for dialysis patients and their loved ones,...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Health Services (25 Jun 2024)

Martin Heydon: The Minister for Health understands the significant improvements a new haemodialysis unit would deliver to patients in Clare. Dialysis treatment can be demanding for patients and their loved ones. As the Deputy clearly outlined, it puts significant pressure on their time and the effect is increased for those who must travel longer distances to receive the treatment. The Government remains...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Tree Remediation (25 Jun 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this important issue. I am taking this Topical Issue this evening on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, who is unable to be here. I appreciate the opportunity to update Members of the Dáil on the potential dangers posed by dead trees, especially those adjacent to public roads, and the need to remove any trees at risk of...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters: Tree Remediation (25 Jun 2024)

Martin Heydon: I do not have a specific answer for the Deputy. I think the answer is in terms of insurance but I do not have it in my response here and I do not want to put something on the record of the House that is just a gut feeling and what my understanding is without being 100% sure. Again, to go back to the original response, landowners do have the primary responsibility. The Deputy spoke about...

Affordable Electricity: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2024)

Martin Heydon: That is right.

Affordable Electricity: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2024)

Martin Heydon: I welcome the opportunity to discuss our energy system and the pressures Irish households have faced because of high energy costs. I thank colleagues from across the House for their contributions. The pressures placed on households and businesses by high energy costs remain of deep concern to the Government. Providing supports to alleviate this pressure has been a priority for the...

Affordable Electricity: Motion [Private Members] (25 Jun 2024)

Martin Heydon: I am here.

Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland's Participation in Two PESCO Projects and Two European Defence Agency Projects and the Report Regarding Service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023: Referral to Select Committee (25 Jun 2024)

Martin Heydon: I move: That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves: (I) Ireland's participation in the following: (i) two Permanent Structured Cooperation Projects in accordance with the Programme for Government commitment: (a) Network of Logistic Hubs in Europe and Support to Operations, and (b) Critical Seabed Infrastructure Protection and the associated Category B European...

Proposed Approval by Dáil Éireann of the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Jersey) Order 2024 and the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Sultanate of Oman) Order 2024: Referral to Select Committee (25 Jun 2024)

Martin Heydon: I move: That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves the following Orders in draft: (i) Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Jersey) Order 2024, and (ii) Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Sultanate of Oman) Order 2024, copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 19th June, 2024, be referred to the Select Committee on Finance, Public...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regulatory Bodies (25 Jun 2024)

Martin Heydon: I am going to start by thanking Senator Seery Kearney for raising what is a really important issue. I will respond on behalf of our colleague, Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, who unfortunately cannot be here today. Last December, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien, announced the opening of the interim remediation scheme as the Senator outlined,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regulatory Bodies (25 Jun 2024)

Martin Heydon: I will bring the very important points the Senator raised back to the Ministers. I do note from the wording of her motion, it was an interim OMC regulator. Maybe that was perceived as non-statutory. I take the very serious points the Senator raised on board. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has also been advancing the steps to put the remediation scheme on a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (25 Jun 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Senator for raising this important and topical point, considering recent cases in the media. I am responding on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, who unfortunately cannot be present today. I convey his apologies to the House. First, I unreservedly state my unequivocal condemnation of assaults. I add my voice to those who have commended the courage and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (25 Jun 2024)

Martin Heydon: I feel the gravity of the points raised by Senator Clonan. I read exactly the response I received from the Tánaiste in the first response. In regard to the very specific point the Senator raised about the serving member who, under the regulation, is being asked to go in, and how that could be misconstrued as a character reference, by a skilled legal team, that is a valid point that I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Schemes (25 Jun 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank Senator Byrne for raising this today. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, who cannot be with us today. The basic income for the arts is a once-in-a-generation policy intervention which has the potential to transform the lives of artists. The scheme is part of a suite of measures that the Minister, Deputy Martin, has introduced to support...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Schemes (25 Jun 2024)

Martin Heydon: The Senator raises very valid points which I will bring back to the Minister, Deputy Martin. While the Minister is optimistic that the basic income payment is having a positive impact on those receiving it, she is very cognisant of the data which is emerging about the difficult conditions in which artists find themselves more generally. Therefore, she held the status of the artist...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Sports Funding (25 Jun 2024)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. A fundamental aim of the Government’s national sports policy is to increase the levels of participation in sport and physical activity across the population, with a specific focus on less represented groups, including women and girls. A great deal of good progress is being made, not just in increasing participation by women and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Sports Funding (25 Jun 2024)

Martin Heydon: I hear the Senator's points and will bring them back to the Minister, Deputy Martin, and the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne. From the response I have from them, their argument would be that every euro going into a sports organisation or club, whether large scale or sports capital, is being done. To avail of any grant, clubs have to confirm they are providing equal access. The approach is,...