Martin Heydon

I thank Deputies for their engagement in what is a really important debate on the issues in respect of fisheries. The concern in all our coastal communities, as raised by Deputies, is very evident, particularly in Donegal and Cork where fishing is such an intrinsic part of our economic activity, as it is in Waterford and Dublin - the latter which is sometimes forgotten in terms of costal communiti…

Wow. You want to accuse us of politicising this issue.

Wow. You have the neck to accuse us of politicising this issue. Wow. Incredible. Shame on you.

You are the ones not in the election.

I rise today to make three quick points in the short time I have available. First, it is the Government's commitment and determination to make progress in spinal services for children. The focus of our current and previous Ministers for Health has been on delivering considerable resources and addressing structural impediments to the delivery of improved spinal services. I want to say to Stephen an…

The Opposition tries to suggest there is no alternative-----

-----motivation behind that. I was not going to make that point today because I thought the public could come to that conclusion itself.

I listened to one of the worst speeches I have heard in this Dáil during my 14 years as a Member of this House from Deputy Mary Lou McDonald.

She framed her address in the grief, distress and pain of families of young children. She made a statement that the Tánaiste was "the only person responsible". I think she said it twice, actually. It was an incredibly personalised direct attack. We have become used to this from the Opposition but it will never be acceptable in discourse. Deputy McDonald proceeded to blatantly make references to th…

-----I stand here to affirm my confidence in the Tánaiste, Simon Harris, for all he has achieved for this country.

Are you saying you did not?

There you are again.

Who is mentioning the election?

Yes, in response. Blatant.

You have all made it pretty clear, Deputy. Let us be honest.

There you are. You admit it now. That is why you are here today.

They are blowing your cover, Peadar.

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to address the House today on the significant challenges facing our tillage sector. Before I outline the Government's response, I will begin by acknowledging the strain that many farming families in the sector face. Coming on the back of two horrendously difficult years weatherwise, thankfully conditions for harvest 2025…

I thank the Deputy for raising what is an important issue. In the aftermath of Storm Éowyn, the Government increased its focus on storm preparedness and building resilience. My Department has been contributing to an extensive review of the whole-of-government response to the storm. The review, co-ordinated by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, is examining all aspects of the…

Absolutely. The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, and I intervened with emergency supports for the horticulture and forestry sectors. The measures I introduced under TAMS and to change the rules around TAMS were all in response to what was an absolutely seismic weather event. It is really important that we learn from it because we know that, with climate change, we are likely to see mor…

I thank the Deputy. I have one last point. To ensure farmers are more resilient in advance of weather events, I have announced plans to introduce grant support under TAMS for the replacement of roofs. Up to now, TAMS covered only new structures. A farmer could not modify an existing structure under it. Subject to appropriate professional analysis confirming that a storm-damaged structure is sound…

I thank the Deputy for raising this point. Of all the big issues we are dealing with and will discuss in this House, be it the budget just passed or all the other challenges, nothing is as central as the CAP, because it sets out the framework for the seven years beyond 2027. At the most recent Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting, held in Brussels in September 2025, I took the opportunity to …

I concur. It comes down to brass tacks, or money, and that is why I stress the budget dimension is of central importance. I stressed this to Commissioner Hansen. I welcome his efforts in securing a €296 billion ring-fenced EU-wide CAP envelope. This is a significant achievement in the context of there being no commitments to ring-fencing beforehand. It has been very clear there was not going to b…

In my first nine months in the job, I hope I have demonstrated that I have good, sharp elbows. In my recent budget negotiations, I secured a 9% increase on the Department of agriculture's overall allocation, whereas the summer economic statement indicated that the overall increase in Government spending would be only 6%. I think the Department has received the second largest percentage increase in…

I agree that this is one of the key issues of our time. It is also the key stressor for older farmers who may not have an identified successor or who may have more than one identified successor and only one farm. There are many challenges in that space. I do not say that light-heartedly. It genuinely is a big cause of stress and concern. Obviously, the next generation who want to farm want that ce…