Parliamentary questions

1806. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will engage with Coillte to ascertain the reason they disengaged from a long-term lease at a location (details supplied); if he will examine measures to ensure that public access to the forest is permitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74724/25]

1807. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration was given to assessing the human health impacts of extending the nitrates derogation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74788/25]

1808. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of data breaches recorded by his Department in 2025; and the number that were reported to the Data Protection Commissioner. [74888/25]

1809. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of WTE Forestry Inspector Grade 1 and Forestry Inspector Grade 2 posts that were filled within his Department as of 5 December 2025; if he will provide same figures as of 1 December 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74920/25]

1810. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the WTE staff by job title posts that are currently filled at the regional veterinary office based in Raphoe, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74921/25]

1811. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he will expedite the ban on surgical artificial insemination in greyhounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74959/25]

1812. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to respond to query (details supplied) regarding slurry storage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74963/25]

1813. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74975/25]

1814. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to request an emergency meeting with the European Commission, the Fisheries Commissioner and the Trade Commissioner to debate the consequences of the cuts to Ireland’s Fishing Quotas [74978/25]

1815. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to request an emergency meeting with the European Commission, the Agriculture Commissioner and the Trade Commissioner to debate the consequences of the Mercosur trade deal for Irish farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74984/25]

1816. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to request an emergency meeting with the European Commission, the Fisheries Commissioner and the Trade Commissioner to debate the consequences of the savage cuts to Ireland's fishing quotas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74985/25]

1817. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of projects in his Department that were delayed in 2023 and 2024 due to the change of document from the Public Spending Code to the Infrastructure Guidelines, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75102/25]

1818. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 734 of 9 December 2025, if he is satisfied that this post given its independent position, sufficiently allows for employment equality in view of its confinement to those in the civil service. [75170/25]

1819. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the salary scale that applies to the Secretary General in his Department and to the head of each agency for which they are responsible; whether this scale has changed in the past two years or whether there are proposals to change this scale in the coming period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75188/25…

1820. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount expended on advertising and promotion in his Department, and within each agency for which he is responsible, for 2022 to 2024, by year and budgeted for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75206/25]

1821. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of press, media or communications staff currently employed in his Department and within each agency for which he is responsible; the cost of these staff for 2025 and the expected cost for 2026; whether there are proposals to increase the number of such staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. […

1822. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost to his Department and to each agency for which they are responsible arising from Ireland’s presidency of the European Council; the line items or events for which a cost is expected to arise and the estimated cost for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75242/25]

1823. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the priorities of his Department and each agency for which it is responsible, in respect of Ireland’s Presidency of the European Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75260/25]

1824. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current number of fishing trawlers registered in Ireland, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75282/25]

1825. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current legislative and regulatory framework governing the ownership, breeding, sale, and importation of exotic animals, including reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates; and if he is satisfied that this framework provides adequate safeguards for animal welfare, public safety, and biosecurity. [75299/25]

1826. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether Ireland operates, or plans to introduce, a positive list or prohibited list system governing which exotic species may be legally kept as pets; and if not, the rationale for relying on the current approach in view of practices in other EU member states. [75300/25]

1827. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the mechanisms in place to monitor and enforce compliance with animal welfare standards in relation to exotic pets, including inspections, licensing, and penalties; and the number of enforcement actions taken in each of the past five years. [75301/25]

1828. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the oversight which exists in respect of the sale of exotic animals through online platforms, pet shops, and private breeders; and whether he plans to strengthen regulation in this area to address animal welfare and consumer protection concerns. [75302/25]

1829. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has conducted or commissioned any risk assessments regarding public health, zoonotic disease, or environmental risks associated with the private ownership of exotic pets; and if so, to provide details of same. [75303/25]

1830. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has assessed the availability of suitably qualified veterinary and animal welfare expertise to deal with exotic species in Ireland, including in cases of abandonment or seizure; and whether gaps have been identified. [75304/25]