Latest news with #MartinHeydon
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Government plot unlikely new housing crisis solution with ‘wood first' move as Healy Rae-backed plan details revealed
THE Government is branching out in its bid to solve the housing crisis with a new 'Wood First' plan that will see timber become the main building material used to build our homes, schools and libraries. It comes as the Cabinet will today give the green light to emergency legislation to extend 3 A new 'Wood first' procurement policy will be launched to ensure that timber is the 'material of choice' in the construction of public buildings Credit: Getty Images - Getty 3 Forestry Minister Micheal Healy-Rae said Ireland has excellent forest resources that are being underused in our construction sector A series of memos will go before the Cabinet today that are aimed at trying to address the Minister Martin Heydon will bring forward the first report from the Government's Timber in Construction Steering Group which calls on the State to use wood more when Forestry Minister Micheal Healy-Rae has worked with the steering group on the report which notes that Ireland has excellent forest resources that are being underused in our construction sector. The steering group believes that our forests have the capacity to supply the timber needed to build Read more in News A new 'Wood first' procurement policy will be launched on the back of the report which will see State bodies ensure that timber is the "material of choice" in the construction of public buildings including schools, libraries and housing. Forestry Minister Micheal Healy-Rae told the Irish Sun: 'If we are trying to build twenty or thirty or sixty thousand houses – every one of those will need a roof and the most environmentally friendly way you can build a roof is not with steel or anything else – it is wood. 'Again with all the partitions in houses you have people who will want to use steel fixing or concrete but at the end of the day I am encouraging people to use wood instead. 'Timber framed houses made in a factory were very big during the Boomy Boom and people will tell you to use others instead like concrete but I think we should be promoting timber. Most read in Money 'We can grow it ourselves. It's our own indigenous resource. It is renewable. You plant it and it grows here, you cut it down and use it and you plant it again and it creates work locally.' Three other plans to try tackle the housing crisis will be brought to Cabinet today by Housing Minister James Browne as Government try to speed up the slow planning process. Sinn Fein housing spokesman Eoin O Broin reacts to record number of homeless people As part of the new measures, former HSE boss Paul Reid will be appointed as chairman of the revamped Coimisiun Pleanala, which will replace An Bord Pleanala. The new Commission will have mandatory times for planning applications to be complete in a bid to speed up the clogged up system. The Cabinet will also be asked to give the Land Development Agency additional powers to develop all types of housing on public land and remove some current checks to speed up the process. The final motion on housing to be brought to Cabinet will be emergency legislation to NEW LAW RUSH This follows the launch of the Government's new rent form strategy last week which has left them scrambling to draw up emergency legislation to prevent landlords cashing in on the long lead in time for the changes. The plan launched last week will see the entire country covered by rent controls with a two per cent cap but with landlords given the power to 'reset' their rent prices every six years or for every new tenancy. These changes were due to kick in from March 1 next year with opposition parties highlighting that the delay in extending the two per cent rent cap would enable landlords in areas that are not currently designated pressure zones jack up their prices before the new rule starts. As a result, Minister Browne will today bring forward emergency legislation that will be rushed through the 3 The Government's new rent form strategy was launched last week Credit: Getty Images - Getty
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
There is still a small chance of rescuing Wexford lagoon from the same fate as Lough Neagh
Ireland still enjoys a reasonably healthy democracy, but we should not underestimate the potential for untruths and wilful ignorance to infect our political discourse. The Government, on the whole, does not deny climate science. So far so good. But when it comes to water quality, alternative facts are endemic. I witnessed an example of this on June 5th. The Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon was challenged outside a Department of Agriculture conference by a group of activists from Animal Rebellion over the impact of agricultural run-off into Lady's Island, an important saltwater lagoon in Co Wexford. 'Where's the evidence for that?' he replied tetchily. It is tempting to craft a detailed response to the Minister, listing out all the studies published over the last two decades by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and forwarded as a matter of course to his department, but what is the point? Either the Minister is poorly informed or prefers not to know. READ MORE The facts are actually piled high in EPA reports on the shelves of his own department and those of Teagasc and local authorities. The EPA's catchment studies show agriculture accounts for roughly 70 per cent of nitrogen inputs in the southeast of Ireland. The data overwhelmingly points to farming – livestock and tillage – as the dominant pressure on water quality. And nitrate pollution is actually on the rise at more than a third of river sites. An Taisce's recent submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy stated that the nitrogen pollution problem in the south and southeast was a result of ineffective regulation, combined with a notable lack of enforcement of the regulations we do have. All the scientific evidence points to the need for a radical reduction in fertiliser and slurry spreading in sensitive catchments. An EPA-funded study published earlier this year and conducted by Aquafact found a five to seven-fold reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus inputs to Lady's Island Lake would be necessary to return the lagoon to good ecological status. [ 'The lough isn't just dying, it's been killed': How Lough Neagh reached crisis point ] This will require changes to farming practices and the construction of buffers and wetlands, as well as tree planting, to contain the nutrient losses. It will also require stepped up inspections and enforcement: since 2018, Wexford County Council has only conducted 30 farm inspections despite the critical state of the lagoon. The Aquafact study was considered at a hearing of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy last week. There was no denial evident from the experts who addressed the committee. Not from Wexford County Council , nor from the National Parks and Wildlife Service . Their representatives pointed out that it has been known for four decades that Lady's Island, an ecologically important saltwater lagoon used by migrating birds, was in steady decline. Local farmers are, on the whole, compliant with the environmental regulations. But if the government's Nitrates Action Plan is not fit for purpose, and permits too much nitrates and phosphates to be deposited in sensitive catchments, then nutrient run-off and pollution is inevitable. However, the Minister for Agriculture has yet to state in the Dáil that he will act decisively to improve water quality, hiding instead behind vague statements such as 'science is telling us things are not where they should be'. It seems like everyone apart from the Minister for Agriculture is in agreement that radical measures are required to reduce nutrient losses. But if the Minister believes there is insufficient evidence to act, then he can justify more studies, more talk, more delays. Politically speaking, his goal is to retain the nitrates derogation (which permits higher stocking rates of cattle), not to save Lady's Island. Retaining the nitrates derogation has become the rallying cry for the entire agricultural sector and its political backers, despite the obvious problem that it is adding to the pollution burden in our rivers, lakes and estuaries. So it would be wrong to think of the death of Lady's Island as a tragedy. Government policy on nitrates is designed to fail, but to keep the derogation regardless. The policy is to sacrifice water quality where it cannot be improved with modest interventions, to support agricultural exports. The Minister has a small chance of rescuing the lagoon from the fate of Lough Neagh by acting decisively to reduce nutrient pollution and to fund the required measures, but I won't be holding my breath. Sadhbh O'Neill is a climate and environmental researcher
Irish Post
12-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Three Japanese chefs inducted into Bord Bia's Irish Beef Club
THREE Japanese chefs have been inducted into Bord Bia's Chef's Irish Beef Club. The Irish food board was in Tokyo this week, where it established the first Asian branch of the Club, which promotes the use of Irish beef across the globe. Currently there are thriving branches of the club in operation across Europe and the Middle East. Now Bord Bia has extended its reach to Japan, welcoming three renowned Japanese chefs as its inaugural members in Asia. Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, Chef Yuji Hayashi, Chef Yuki Inoue, Chef Kenzo Nishizawa and Bord Bia CEO Jim O'Toole pictured at the launch Yuji Hayashi, of The Momentum by Porsche, Yuki Inoue of Ristorante La Bisboccia, and Kenzo Nishizawa, of Trattoria Da Kenzo, were formally inducted into the international club at The Momentum by Porsche restaurant in Tokyo. The official launch took place as part of the Irish government's trade mission to Japan led by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon. 'Irish beef is growing in strength in Japan and launching the Chefs' Irish Beef Club here in Tokyo is testament to how well premium Irish beef is received on the global stage,' Minister Heydon said. 'The voluntary endorsement of Irish beef by three prestigious Japanese chefs underscores the exceptional quality of meat from Ireland,' he added. Chef Yuji Hayashi, who has worked as the Executive Chef at Momentum, the world's first Porsche-approved restaurant in Tokyo, for the last four years, said his appointment to the Chefs' Irish Beef Club (CIBC) was 'an honour'. 'I'm delighted to host Ireland's Minister of Agriculture today, and serve him and the group some beautiful Irish beef here in Tokyo,' he added. 'When I visited Ireland I realised how good the animal welfare was, it was amazing to see cattle living a stress-free life on the greenest grass.' Bord Bia CEO Jim O'Toole said taste profiles are changing in Japan and that Irish grass fed beef is now highly desired by Japanese consumers. 'Historically, Japanese consumers have a preference for grain fed beef over grass fed, due to the reputation of their own grain-fed Wagyu beef, but Bord Bia's market insights show that this is changing,' he said. 'There is increasing evidence that Japanese consumers enjoy the taste, flavour and smell of Irish grass fed beef,' he added. 'The fact that some of Japan's most prestigious chefs are now cooking with Irish beef is a strong endorsement of the quality and reputation of Irish beef from farm to fork, and marks the beginning of a new chapter in the promotion of Irish beef in Japan. See More: Bord Bia, Chefs Irish Beef Club, Japan, Tokyo
Agriland
12-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
'No plans to transfer the national forest estate to NPWS'
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has said that he has 'no plans' to transfer Coillte's forestry holdings to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). In a parliamentary question this week (June 2025) People Before Profit-Solidarity TD, Richard Boyd Barrett asked Minister Heydon if he would consider the move 'to ensure that Ireland's forestry will be preserved for non-commercial use and biodiversity will be conserved'. Minister Heydon highlighted that Coillte was established as a commercial state company with private limited status under the Forestry Act 1988, to become custodian and manager of the national forest estate. The minister explained that a principal object of the company, set out in the Forestry Act, is to carry on the business of forestry and related activities on a commercial basis, and in accordance with efficient silvicultural practices. He said: 'The focus at the time when the company was established was to put the estate in the charge of a company that would realise its potential and support wood production. 'Coillte is currently managing 440,000 hectares of land, 7% of the total area of the Republic of Ireland. 'Coillte's role has evolved over time to reflect the company's important role in addressing the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the forestry sector and our rural economy,' Minister Heydon added. Minister Martin Heydon According to Minister Heydon, one-fifth of Coillte's forestry estate, or 90,000ha, is currently managed primarily for biodiversity. 'The current legislation governing the mandate of Coillte, together with government policy, the existing shareholder letter of expectations, existing national and EU legislation, along with Coillte's own strategic vision, ensures that climate action and the protection and enhancement of nature and biodiversity are integral to the company's role and operations,' the minister said. He also claims that Coillte has a long term 'ambition' to manage 30% of its estate primarily for nature and biodiversity. As a result, Minister Heydon said that he believes that Coillte's role as custodian and manager of the national forest estate should remain unchanged.
Agriland
12-06-2025
- Health
- Agriland
Heydon defends DAFM's strategy for tackling TB
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has outlined the reasons that his department captures badgers in areas where 'serious outbreaks of TB have been identified' and a veterinary inspector has found that badgers are 'the likely source on inspection'. Minister Heydon was responding to a parliamentary question from People Before Profit-Solidarity TD, Paul Murphy this week (June 10). Deputy Murphy asked the minister if he will bring an end to the culling of badgers by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) 'in light of scientific evidence that it is ineffective in reducing TB levels in cattle'. In response Minister Heydon said: 'Bovine tuberculosis is a challenging disease to control and eradicate due to several factors. 'Ireland's bovine TB eradication programme operates in line with best national and international scientific research and advice. A large body of peer-reviewed research has been conducted into the spread of TB in Ireland and the risks underlying its transmission,' Minister Heydon added. According to the minister, the research has found that the principal causes of TB introduction and spread include: Movement of cattle with undetected infection. Residual infection in cattle previously exposed to TB. Spread across farm boundaries. Indirect spread through other biosecurity breaches. Spread from infected badgers to cattle. TB The minister believes that the relative contributions of each of these factors will vary from farm to farm. Minister Heydon said: 'Ireland's current TB eradication programme necessarily incorporates a wildlife strategy which includes the removal of badgers from areas where there has been a TB outbreak. 'Such a requirement arises as tuberculosis is present both in cattle and in badgers and both species share the same environment, and the same strains of TB. The current policy was introduced in response to research conducted over many years by the department. 'Research carried out in Ireland demonstrates that TB levels in badgers are highest in areas where TB levels in cattle are highest and that the targeted removal of badgers in such areas contributes to a reduction in the incidence of TB,' Minister Heydon added. The minister also highlighted that badgers are protected by national legislation, and are listed within the Berne convention. This legislation outlines that local populations of badgers cannot be exterminated, and that badger habitats cannot be destroyed. 'Badgers are captured under license, issued by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage,' Minister Heydon said. 'My department's wildlife programme comprises a combination of vaccination and culling, depending on the circumstances,' he added.
