Results 261-280 of 5,066 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: In 2006, the EU introduced a restructuring mechanism intended to reduce overall production of sugar, acknowledging the then global over supply and resultant low prices. Ireland received €353 million as part of the reform package with some €220 million being distributed to beet growers and a further €6 million to machinery contractors in the sector. In 2025, 9,600ha of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 728 and 729 together. The Programme for Government prioritises supporting inter-generational farm succession. Supporting young farmers is critical to ensure a vibrant and sustainable agri-food sector. There is a range of supports available for generational renewal, including initiatives under the current CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), a strong suite of taxation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department has been quick to take action in light of the suspected highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak near Omagh, Co. Tyrone. This includes close engagement with Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, convening a meeting between my Department and poultry industry stakeholders, and issuing a technical update bulletin to stakeholders on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: I published the Bovine TB Action Plan, “Addressing Bovine TB in Ireland”, on 9 September. The Action Plan follows extensive discussions with stakeholders in recent months. I also received support and approval from Cabinet on 24 June to address the current high levels of Bovine TB (bTB). The Action Plan is based on scientific research and veterinary expertise. There are five...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: The rules regarding the eligibility for payments of all agricultural lands, including uplands, have been designed to ensure that maximum flexibility is given to farmers so that they can choose the most appropriate methods for their own lands. This allows farmers and their advisors to ensure that management practices chosen suit the particular habitats that exist on their lands. While most...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: Almost €517.2 million has now issued to participants in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), of which over €267.7 million has issued in respect of participation in 2024. The following table presents the breakdown of the remaining participants awaiting payment for 2024. General CP Total 389 900 1,289 ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: The use of sulkies on public roads specifically, as with the use of all vehicles, including animal-drawn vehicles, is governed by the relevant provisions of the Roads and Road Traffic Acts. Reviews of this legislation would be a matter for the Minister for Transport. The drivers of all vehicles used on public roads, including horse-drawn carriages, are required to comply with road traffic...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: Ireland's €258m Seafood Development Programme, which is co-funded by the Irish Government and EU Commission under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027, is the primary source of funding for the Irish commercial seafood sector. The EMFAF Regulation sets out the measures which are eligible for funding. Relevant EU state aid Regulations for the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Contracts (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: In line with Government policy, my Department prioritises the use of central arrangements (including frameworks) where suitable. My Department avails of frameworks put in place by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) and the Education Procurement Service (EPS). My Department currently does not have any of its own frameworks with a mini-competition award mechanism in place. As these...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Contracts (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: In line with Government policy, my Department prioritises the use of central arrangements (including frameworks) where suitable. My Department avails of frameworks put in place by the OGP (Office of Government Procurement) and the EPS (Education Procurement Service). When using such frameworks and where environmental and social considerations are in scope, tenderers are required to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Contracts (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department publishes a quarterly report on the Purchase Orders over €20,000 in line with the requirements under the Freedom of Information Act 2014. The details of the report are taken from my Department’s electronic records of payments made in that quarter. This information is recorded on a financial management system (FMS) operated by SAP, a multinational software company....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Passports (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: The processing of equine passport applications is an operational matter for the seven approved passport issuing organisations (PIOs). My Department emphasises the importance of timely issuing of equine passports and will engage with PIOs where necessary if unacceptable delays are being experienced.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: I am acutely aware of the volatile nature of farm income and the challenges of meeting our climate obligations. Irish agricultural output prices and input costs are sensitive to geopolitical and global economic factors, as well as more localised factors. This can lead to variations in income from year to year. I am supporting beef and dairy farmers through a combination of targeted...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Directives (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: There is significant engagement and action across the agri-food sector in relation to improving water quality and reducing emissions. The Government remains committed to seeking a continuation of Ireland's nitrates derogation and improving water quality. The Nitrates Regulations form the baseline for reducing agricultural nutrient losses and improving water quality. However,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Wildlife Protection (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department is supporting farmers in the critical work that they undertake in conserving and restoring nature, across many fronts. My colleague the Minister of State for Nature, Heritage & Biodiversity has lead responsibility for the development of Ireland's Nature Restoration Plan . The Deputy may be aware that I secured an increased allocation of €280m funding in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: Bovine TB is an ongoing challenge for Irish farmers. I am acutely aware of the emotional and financial impacts of bovine TB on farmers, their families and rural Ireland. In recent years we have seen a significant increase in bTB levels nationally with over 6,000 farm families affected by a bTB outbreak in 2024 and herd incidence was at 6.04%. The primary driver of the cost of the bTB...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Reports (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: I wish to inform the Deputy that the information requested in relation to all studies, research and reports commissioned by my Department, that were outsourced in each of the past five years, is set out in the attached table.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: The requested breakdown of figures per county is currently being compiled and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy on completion.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: As the Deputy may be aware, ACRES payments continue to issue on a weekly basis. More than 99.6% of participants have now had their 2023 ACRES payments finalised. I can confirm that there are now a total of 178 participants awaiting finalisation of their 2023 scheme year payments. These are in a change of contract scenario, in that a change of ownership has taken place and certain...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (14 Oct 2025)

Martin Heydon: It is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy in the required time. A response will issue to the Deputy in due course.