Results 301-320 of 1,066,216 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' speaker:Áine Brady

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pigmeat Sector (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank Deputy Murphy for raising this important topic. There is EU and national legislation in place to protect the welfare of pigs. It sets out detailed requirements for pigs, including, for example, requirements for minimum space, feeding and watering of pigs, environmental enrichment, lighting and noise levels. Regarding sow stalls and farrowing crates, the legislation allows for sows...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tillage Sector (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I concur and agree with the Deputy that we want to see growth in the tillage sector. After two really hard years, I am very heartened to see a slight increase on last year in the area under arable and tillage crops. In the face of two horrendous years, it has stabilised. This year is difficult. Futures prices for the sector are still very challenging. It is the one sector of agriculture...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tillage Sector (3 Jul 2025)

George Lawlor: I acknowledge that we may have a better year this year but the tillage sector has suffered crippling losses over recent years. We have seen fertiliser prices increase by up to 300% since the war in Ukraine began. We have seen tillage farm incomes plummet. In 2022, the average tillage farm income was €76,600. In 2024, it had plummeted to €30,000. Tillage farmers cannot take...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tillage Sector (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: At the end of the day, we continue to have those supports in place. There is strong co-operation, €10 million for the protein aid scheme and the allocation of money for the intervention earlier this year. While that was to recognise last year's hardship, it came out of the budget for this year, which I have to manage for tillage and all other sectors. I will continue to work with...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Animal Diseases (3 Jul 2025)

Animal Diseases

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Animal Diseases (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Kenny: 76. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department will implement the new measures to tackle TB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36040/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Animal Diseases (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Kenny: I raise with the Minister the situation as regards TB, which is at crisis point across the country. I know the TB forum has set out a number of measures that have yet to be enacted. I would like to get an update on when these are going to happen. Many of these actions are difficult for farmers. When they have a reactor or their farm is locked down as a result of TB, the last thing they...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Animal Diseases (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. To answer his question directly, the last thing farmers need is a further increase in the spread of TB. That is the root cause of all of this stress and concern, which the Deputy has articulated very clearly and on which I completely agree with him. My job is to provide leadership and to bring farmers with us. Everybody is going to have...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Animal Diseases (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Kenny: To get to the issues that are of most concern to many people in the agricultural community, one of the issues farmers are concerned about is the proposal that a sign be put up at marts where there is a reactor in a herd. This would be there for quite a long time and would restrict farmers in getting a decent price for their animals. That is an issue that needs to be dealt with very...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Animal Diseases (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: While trying to bring people with us and minimise the impact on farmers, who are already extremely stressed, I have to ensure that we have a science-based approach and that what we do is backed up by science. There are three very clear causes of the spread of bovine TB: cattle-to-cattle transmission, residual transmission and wildlife. If we do not have a suite of measures that, when...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Animal Diseases (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Kenny: I appreciate all of that. To give credit where it is due, something is being done. A crisis has been allowed to evolve over the years. What we need this morning, if we can get it, is a commitment as to when this is going to happen and clarity on those issues I raised regarding the difficulties farmers going to the market are going to have and so on. We need to see that clarity. We also...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (3 Jul 2025)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I apologise for being a little late and thank my colleague, Deputy Conor McGuinness, for introducing my question. I appreciate that the Minister of State is new to his role but my difficulty is that what he has just read out was said to me again and again by the previous Minister for agriculture, Deputy McConalogue. This is an uninhabited rock and there is just no basis under...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (3 Jul 2025)

Timmy Dooley: I note the Deputy's personal interest in this, as well as that of others in the area who have raised it consistently with me. It is a position that goes back to the 1955 situation and, obviously, Brexit then had a really negative effect from a fisher's perspective. On Wednesday next, I am meeting the UK Minister with responsibility for fisheries, Mr. Daniel Zeichner and I intend to raise...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (3 Jul 2025)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I am mindful that the previous Scottish First Minister, Ms Nicola Sturgeon, according to reports in The Guardian newspaper, was trying to resolve this issue. Ultimately, it is a jurisdictional issue and the British Government has probably been let off the hook on this. The fisheries element of the TCA was recently extended by 12 years. That is very problematic because it locks down the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (3 Jul 2025)

Timmy Dooley: I will not be found wanting in conveying the feelings of this House. We are united on this issue. We are not always united on issues here but we are very united on trying to find a resolution to this. I am conscious that it has to be done through the diplomatic channels. I am also conscious that there are significant legacy issues and that, notwithstanding the view of some in this House...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tillage Sector (3 Jul 2025)

Tillage Sector

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tillage Sector (3 Jul 2025)

Robert O'Donoghue: 75. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how he proposes to increase the tillage area, as outlined as a key desire in the programme for Government; when a tillage incentive scheme will be introduced to support tillage growers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36299/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tillage Sector (3 Jul 2025)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The tillage sector is an integral part of Irish farming and makes a really significant contribution to overall agricultural output. This Government recognises the importance of the sector and wants to grow the area under tillage crops in the years ahead. The report of the Food Vision 2030 tillage group, which was set up to set out a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tillage Sector (3 Jul 2025)

George Lawlor: I thank the Minister and acknowledge his response. As he knows, tillage is a vital part of our food security. Given what is happening globally and the uncertainty that prevails, a reliable and viable tillage sector is required to ensure a food supply. It is also important to speak to the fact that tillage is effectively a carbon-neutral, if not better, area of agriculture and, as such, can...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Joint Policing Committees (3 Jul 2025)

Joint Policing Committees