Parliamentary questions

597. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a union dispute in the forestry section of his Department is affecting the licensing process, or whether it is resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15252/25]

598. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how often a census is undertaken of the Irish fishing fleet; and to provide a breakdown of the current fleet, by boat size. [15254/25]

599. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether it is his intention to reexamine the proportion of the mackerel and herring quota allocated to small fishers and inshore fishers; whether he has met with representatives of small fishers and inshore fishers on the issue of the quota since taking office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15255/25]

600. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how he plans to prioritise improvements in farmer mental health and well-being supports, recognising the unique challenges faced by those in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15293/25]

601. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to address issues with the ACRES payment; if he will make an interim payment to help farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15294/25]

602. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of farmers in Carlow and Kilkenny impacted by delays to ACRES payments to date; the number who still have not been paid; the reason for such delays; when payments are expected to conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15295/25]

603. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has plans to recruit and retain young people into farming, given the many challenges the sector currently has; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15296/25]

604. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider tax reliefs on training fees for those looking to get involved in a horse partnership or syndicate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15302/25]

605. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average annual CAP payments received by farmers in Carlow and Kilkenny from 2021 onwards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15310/25]

606. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status assigned to non-coursing greyhounds born in the Republic of Ireland on the Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system 42 days after their last trial or race; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15326/25]

607. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status assigned to non-coursing greyhounds born in the six counties of Northern Ireland on the Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system 42 days after their last trial or race; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15327/25]

608. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if non-coursing greyhounds born in the six counties of Northern Ireland, who have had at least one race or trial in the Republic of Ireland, are included in the figures given for non-coursing greyhounds with an inactive status on the Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system; and if he will make a statement on the matt…

609. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds currently with an active status on the Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system, broken down by year of birth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15329/25]

610. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of licensed horse trainers in Ireland in each year since 1 January 2020; the number of Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board inspectors; the number of unannounced inspections; whether each trainer has had unannounced inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15380/25]

611. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the controls his Department and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board have in relation to the operation of unlicensed trainers; whether further legislation is planned on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15381/25]

612. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any public body or publicly funded body under his Department’s aegis procured from outside the EU any professional services in excess of €25,000 in relation to accountancy, pensions, architecture or legal, in each year from 1 January 2020 to end 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the …

613. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board took in 2022, 2023 and 2024 to advise the public or those working in the sector of complaint procedures around poor stable facilities or the ill treatment of horses under their authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15384/25]

614. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress of the efforts by Bord Iascaigh Mhara to retrieve ghost gear (abandoned nets, and so on); the amount of material retrieved in each year since 1 January 2020; how successful these efforts have been; the cost of same; whether a new central scheme for all waterways is required; and if he will make a sta…

615. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are plans to produce guidelines around coastal magnet fishing; if his Department will support the removal of metal waste from the Irish foreshore while protecting the State’s interests; if his Department will discuss the matter with other responsible Departments; and if he will make a statement on the ma…

616. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any public bodies or publicly funded bodies under his Department's aegis are not compliant with Part V of the Disability Act 2005; if Part V applies to all subsidiaries of such bodies; whether, in cases where it does not, he has the power to extend such a requirement, either through Ministerial order or throug…

617. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the increase in the cost of production of milk products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15566/25]

618. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide figures relating to overall Irish agri-food exports to the USA and the EU, broken down by food type, during 2023 and 2024, in tabular form. [15581/25]

619. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is committed to undertaking a review of the Forestry Standards Manual given the impact of recent storms on public roads, utilities and powerlines, especially the setback distances from overhead powerlines; and if his Department will consider the introduction of a separate felling licence application sy…

620. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an Eco scheme and hardship payment will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15628/25]

621. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of the recent investigation by an organisation (details supplied); if he will take action on the animal rights violations it exposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15697/25]