Latest news with #Heydon
Agriland
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Agriland
Heydon: ‘We want to incorporate' women farmers in EU presidency
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has said he 'absolutely wants' to incorporate the issue of women in agriculture into Ireland's presidency of the Council of the EU. The minister was speaking at a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine this week, his first meeting with the committee as the senior minister at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. In the second half of 2026, Ireland will hold the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, which means Minister Heydon, if he is still minister at that time, will chair the meetings of the EU's agriculture ministers. Among the wide range of issues that came up at this week's committee meeting was women in agriculture, with Senator Victor Boyhan asking the minister if he will make the issue a priority during Ireland's EU council presidency. Boyhan also pointed out that 2026 has been designated by the United Nations (UN) as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. Boyhan told the minister: 'The UN have designated 2026 – which is timely as you'll be [in] a critical role in all of this – as the international year of women farmers. 'There is a lead-in time, and a very significant lead-in time, and I want to use some of my time in this agricultural committee to really, really champion women in agriculture,' Boyhan added. 'I think it's really, really important that we support women in agriculture, that we have this UN designation in 2026, we also have the presidency [of the EU council] in 2026. 'I'd ask you to take away this request…that you would really place a high focus on that, and perhaps you might initiate some engagement later in the year back to this committee to see how can we build around stakeholder involvement; how can we put that to the fore of agriculture and our deliberations in the Oireachtas and this committee, because I think that is really important,' Boyhan said. In response to Boyhan's comments, Minister Heydon said: 'That is something we absolutely want to incorporate into our presidency.' According to the minister, the issue of women in farming is important globally, not just in Ireland or the EU; and that the EU has role in promoting that. 'There is an element that when you have the presidency of the EU, it's a huge honour, but it comes with it a responsibility, not just within the EU, but obviously then…outward facing. 'Women in agriculture is something that I promoted at events when I was on trade missions in Mexico previously, and different areas, but one area where it's really important is the area of Africa,' Minister Heydon said. 'Incorporating the women in agriculture role and linking it to food security in places like Africa is really important as well,' he added. Turning back to Irish farming, the minister said: 'Women in agriculture also features in our programme for government, and there are key measures I would look to progress over my term in the Department of Agriculture to be able to enhance that role because I know how important it is. 'We have so many farms where women are the key drivers of the farm but their name may not appear on the blue card or on the herd number and therefore their role isn't as recognised, but it's absolutely integral. 'I'm happy to work with you and the committee members on any ideas you might have on that or other elements of our presidency [of the EU council],' Minister Heydon added. Speaking to Agriland at Leinster House after his comments in the committee, Senator Boyhan, said: 'We have a vast array of interests on the committee, so I chose today to speak about women in agriculture because there was…an action plan arising from the National Dialogue on Women in Agriculture, so I particularly zoned in on that. 'I think to be effective in the agriculture committee given our limited time, we have to use that time wisely and I persuaded the minister to commit to [that], particularly next year because next year is the international year for women in agriculture, also we have the presidency, so I think it's important that we dovetail them, and I got that commitment from the minister,' Boyhan added.
Agriland
2 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Heydon: ‘Hopeful signs' on forestry planting this year
There are 'hopeful signs' on forestry planting this year which is up 'nearly 150% on the same period last year' according to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon. In response to a question tabled by the Sinn Féin spokesperson on agriculture, Martin Kenny, the minister added: 'There is more to come, with another 1,600 hectares already committed to or commenced planting, and a further 4,490 hectares licenced but not yet planted'. According to Minister Heydon the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 'represents the largest ever investment by an Irish Government in tree-planting' and was put in place to incentivise farmers to see tree-planting as an additional income stream or diversification option. Deputy Kenny had tabled a question in the Dáil requesting the minister to outline the number of 'recipients currently receiving afforestation premiums under afforestation schemes from 2005 to date'. Forestry Minister Heydon said that around 9,788 individual forest owners are due premia payments in 2025, for 87,893ha planted under afforestation schemes since 2005. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) also provided details to Deputy Kenny in relation to the number of hectares of forestry planted and the breakdown of the number of hectares of forestry, per forest types 1 to 12, under the current afforestation scheme. Forest types/hectares of forestry planted Source: DAFM Forestry licences Separately the Sinn Féin TD for Cavan-Monaghan, Matt Carthy, also asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to specify the number number of forestry licences issued in each quarter one from 2019 to 2025. Number of forestry licences issued in Q1 over the last 7 years Source: DAFM According to Minister Heydon forestry licences should be processed within six months for screened-out applications (those not subject to appropriate assessment) and within nine months for screened-in applications (those subject to appropriate assessment). He also told Deputy Carthy: 'My department will publish a Forestry Licensing Plan for 2025 in the coming weeks, taking account of developments on foot of the fallout from storms Darragh and Éowyn. 'Now that the satellite assessment of the extent of the damage is complete, my department can assess the information and plan in more detail accordingly. 'The plan will cover afforestation, roads, private and Coillte felling licences'.
Agriland
2 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Heydon committed to 2-pillar CAP but has no ‘crystal ball'
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has reaffirmed his commitment to the traditional two-pillar structure of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), but has said he has no 'crystal ball'. The minister was speaking at his first appearance as a senior minister in front of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. A range of topics came up, with CAP, and its future post-2027, being one of the main issued raised by TDs and senators on the committee. The European Commission is understood to be planning a radical overhaul of the EU's long-term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), in which the funding to member states would be consolidated into a single funding pot, with member states then developing a plan to outline how they would use that funding. This has sparked concern that the two-pillar structure of CAP, and even a dedicated budget for the entire CAP, could be scrapped in favour of a single member state fund. The minister was quizzed on this by Roscommon-Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice, who asked: 'The overall budget in CAP, is it going to be bigger, yes or no? Is Ireland's budget going to be bigger to accommodate it if we're going to be tweaking around on it? Are we going to have Pillar I and Pillar II, is it going to be the same system?' In answer to Fitzmaurice, the minister said: 'Apologies deputy, I left my crystal ball at home, so I don't have that, and we'd all love to know those answers. 'What I can tell you is we'll know in the middle of July. Around July 16 is when these [plans] are going to be announced, and all I can tell you is we are doing everything in our power. 'I can't be clearer – we want to maintain the [CAP] fund, we want to maintain Pillar I and II, we want a fully funded CAP,' he added. 'Will we get that?… We know all the other demands there are on other sides.' Fitzmaurice then asked if, in a situation where the CAP in its traditional form was not forthcoming, the government would be prepared to step in and 'prop it up'. Minister Heydon said: 'We could end up with so many different scenarios here… If what was leaked out in terms of a single fund was to come about…I would make the point that it would be a very bad thing. That would mean renationalisation of our system. It would actually undermine the whole [EU] single market. 'I'm not going to get into predicting what might come of what outcome, because there's so many different outcomes there can be here. 'What I can tell you right now is we are making every effort across government to put our best foot forward to maintain a fully funded cap with the traditional structure that has served our sector so well,' he added. The minister also noted that, in the second half of 2026, when the CAP budget is likely to be finalised, Ireland will hold the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, one of the legislative bodies of the EU, meaning Minister Heydon, if he is still in office, will be the chairperson of the council of agriculture ministers during that period. He said: 'The first element of this is actually the MFF. What happens with the overall budget will totally determine what happens with CAP. 'In terms of the role we play in the agriculture council… What we do have is, in the second half of 2026, I'll be the chair of the council of ministers and, as we're working through that, we'll be working on the basis of consensus. 'I'm meeting with every other minister bilaterally to understand their priorities and so they understand our priorities… Hopefully before the end of 2026 under the Irish presidency, I;ll be in a position to get that CAP over the line by means of consensus.
Agriland
3 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Minister: ‘September at the latest' for ACRES NPI payment system
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has said that it will be 'September at the latest' before the payments system for non-productive investments (NPIs) is ready under the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES). Under ACRES, farmers in the Co-operation Project (CP) section of the scheme can undertake NPIs to enhance their payments. NPIs are small-scale environmental actions available to farmers in the ACRES CP which support nature-friendly management of farms. NPIs are applied for on behalf of farmers by their ACRES advisor as part of a NPI – Annual Works Plan (AWP). According to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, completing approved NPIs allows a farmer to add to their ACRES payment by up to a maximum of €17,500 over the five-year period of their contract. There has been two application windows for farmers to apply for NPIs; one in 2023 and one last year in 2024. However, the payments system to support the submission of claims and the processing of payments in respect of approved NPI applications is not yet in place. The department had already said that the system would be in place in 2025. Minister Heydon, speaking at the first meeting of the new Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which took place today (Wednesday, May 28), indicated a target of September for that system to be in place. He told Fine Gael Clare TD Joe Cooney: 'The great focus has been getting people their basic [ACRES] payment first and foremost, getting their problems resolved on that. 'On the NPI payments then, the officials are working through on his, but we are making progress on that side, and hope to have them resolved as soon as possible over the summer, or September at the latest, in terms of getting them resolved, and getting payments through on them,' Minister Heydon added. ACRES was one of the main topics that came up at today's committee meeting, the other top issues for TDs and senators being TB and the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Other topics that featured were the nitrates derogation, GAEC (Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition) 2; and the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement. This was the minister's first appearance at the Oireachtas agriculture committee in his role as the senior department minister. Minister Heydon's previous appearances at the committee, in its previous iteration before the general election last year, were in his then role as minister for state with responsibility for new market development, farm safety, and research and development. This was the first meeting of the current committee, post-general election, where it carried out its role of scrutinising the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the ministers responsible for it. As the first meeting, it had somewhat of an introductory tone, serving as a way for the committee to get off the ground for the new Dáil term and begin its formal engagement with the minister. One member of the committee, senator Victor Boyhan, said: '[Minister Heydon] indicated that he wanted a fresh start, a new relationship with agriculture, with stakeholders, and with us as committee members, so I think that's encouraging.'
Agriland
3 days ago
- Politics
- Agriland
Heydon to meet joint agri committee for first time as DAFM minister
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon will appear in a public meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine today (Wednesday, May 28). This will be the first session of the committee that the minister will appear at in his role as the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Minister Heydon's previous appearances at the committee, in its previous iteration before the general election last year, were in his then role as minister for state with responsibility for new market development, farm safety, and research and development. This will be the first meeting of the current committee, post-general election, where it will carry out its role of scrutinising the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the ministers responsible for it. Previous meetings of the current committee dealt with its internal business, such as choosing a chairperson. A range of topics are set to come up at this evening's meeting, including the eradication of TB; the controversial GAEC (Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition) 2; broader issues on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP); and the nitrates derogation. The meeting will take place in Committee Room 4 of Leinster House, and is scheduled to begin at 4:00p.m. The meeting can be viewed on the Oireachtas TV website. Speaking ahead of committee meeting, its chairperson, Fianna Fáil Cork North-West TD Aindrias Moynihan, said: 'Our committee looks forward to our first meeting tomorrow and very much welcomes this early opportunity to engage with Minister Heydon. 'We hope it will be the first in a series of meetings with the minister and we thank him for making time in his schedule to attend,' Moynihan added. The details of the membership of the committee were confirmed earlier this month. The committee has 14 members – nine TDs and five senators. The membership of each committee usually reflects the proportion of the seats held by each of the political parties in the houses of the Oireachtas. Oireachtas committees have the power to invite submissions; hold hearings with stakeholders and ministers; and draft and publish reports. The membership of the committee is as follows: TDs: Aindrias Moynihan (chairperson) – Cork North-West, Fianna Fáil; William Aird (deputy chairperson) – Laois, Fine Gael; Peter 'Chap' Cleere – Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fáil; Joe Cooney – Clare, Fine Gael; Michael Fitzmaurice – Roscommon-Galway, Independent Ireland; Danny Healy-Rae – Kerry, independent; Martin Kenny – Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Féin; Paul Lawless – Mayo, Aontú; Natasha Newsome Drennan – Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Féin. Senators (all elected from Agricultural Panel): Victor Boyhan – independent; Paraic Brady – Fine Gael; Joanne Collins – Sinn Féin; Paul Daly – Fianna Fáil; Eileen Lynch – Fine Gael.
