Martin Heydon
Kildare South · Fine Gael · Ireland
“In the time allotted to us, I would say we will not be able to cover everything in CAP. To take the last point first, the budget is everything. While it is not part of my negotiations as chair of the AGRIFISH Council, it is a key focus of the Irish Presidency.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this important point. A key focus of Food Vision 2030, the shared stakeholder-led strategy for the agrifood sector, is to grow the value of Irish agrifood exports in international markets, which, as I outlined earlier, we have been very successful at in recent years.”
“All producers selling raw milk must register with my Department and are subject to risk-based official controls that include inspection, audit and sampling.”
“Whether it is farmers with particular issues that are leading to environmental issues or issues with structures that need to be replaced, we are very lucky to have capital support in agriculture. I really believe in our TAMS structure.”
“I was delighted to be able to introduce the tillage sustainability support scheme earlier this year. I have not been found wanting in standing up and supporting a tillage sector that has been under pressure in recent times. The same applies to horticulture.”
“Following the publication of the report, I wrote to the chairperson of the board on 22 June 2026, requesting that the board develop a timely and effective action plan to address the recommendations in the report, and I will be seeking regular updates on its progress. I want to see these recommendations implemented and progressed.”
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“In July 2025, the European Commission published its legislative proposals for the post-2027 CAP as a chapter of the proposed national and regional partnership plan framework. Negotiations on the CAP regulation are ongoing at EU level through Council working parties, the Special Committee on Agriculture, and the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of Ministers. I have been engaged actively throughout these negotiations and we are preparing for Ireland's role during our Presidency in the second half of 2026. We continue to carefully examine the Commission’s proposals relating to the future structure of direct payments and income supports, including the proposals on pensions. The proposals suggest that member states should exclude farmers in receipt of a pension from direct payments by 2032.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising a really important point. When I reflect on the key things throughout my term in this position, different issues will come up to be dealt with from day to day but I have always been clear there are a number of big things I will ultimately be judged on. Last year, nitrates was the key headline figure that you could never take your eye off. Throughout that time, I was building relationships with colleagues across the AGRIFISH Council in preparation for our Presidency at a time when CAP reform will be coming. It was a key part of preparing for CAP as well. Generational renewal is in that mix too; it is central to everything we are doing and a key part of this CAP.”
“From an animal welfare perspective, it is absolutely terrible. It is also a road safety issue on many fronts. It is something that is not acceptable to me and something I hope, through working with colleagues in government, we can have further action on.”
“It is important to say that responsibility for animal welfare rests with the owner of the animal and the person whose care the animal is in. Sulky racing on roads comes under the Department of Transport and, as the Deputy said, the Garda Síochána as well. My Department does work in the area of enforcement. We have the legislation around harness racing on roads. We have to be able to identify the organiser and that is difficult to do in many instances. It is the organiser who is liable in that regard. I am having engagement with my colleague, the Minister for Transport, while also looking at it from the justice side as well because I am deeply uncomfortable with the images we have seen on our motorways, which are completely unacceptable. It is lawlessness. It is not appropriate behaviour.”
“In trying to prepare for this debate, I was not sure which element of horse welfare and dog welfare the Deputy would raise. I will amend what I will say on the basis of the targeted nature of her question. We have done a lot in the area of equine control and supporting equine charities and animal welfare charities in general in terms of the work I do in my Department as well as on supporting the different elements. We have a number of urban horse projects and so on and they are really positive. From 2015 to date, we have spent about €2.1 million on urban horse projects, and €170,000 was allocated for these projects in 2026. My Department would welcome submissions from local authorities on other projects. The Deputy specifically mentioned sulky racing, which I have huge concern about.”
“There are some constraints I would be happy to discuss with the Deputy in the House and on Committee Stage as well as we work through what is possible legislatively and legally and what is not. I have a clear determination in this space. I hope to bring forward legislation very soon this year and to be able to work through that legislative process on reform.”
“I was a member of the joint Oireachtas committee on agriculture from 2011 to 2016 when the then Minister, Simon Coveney, brought in a consolidated animal welfare Act. However, we always have to strive to do better and keep a very close eye on what the practices of the day are. Deputy Whitmore has outlined some really concerning practices that are of grave concern to me. The stakeholder group has done a huge body of work. I hope we can get its report very soon because I do not want to act in advance of that but I am really keen to move here. I agreed to the timed amendment to Deputy Whitmore's Bill on the basis that there were a few elements of it I wanted to work through on my side but I believe we are both trying to achieve the same thing.”
“Under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 local authorities are required to maintain and publish lists of dog breeding establishments and my Department collates this information to form a national dog breeding establishment register. However, as the Deputy outlined today and previously, the practices that are happening at present in this space are unsatisfactory. I share the Deputy's determination to bring about a change here. It was why in the negotiations for the programme for Government I wanted whoever was Minister in this position now to have the ability to bring those together and I am delighted I have the opportunity to do that and to work with colleagues in the House, including Deputy Whitmore.”
“It came into effect on 1 January 2019. These guidelines aim to provide for welfare of dogs and pups, provide clarity on socialisation of pups, and accurate record-keeping. It stipulates staff to animal ratios and allows for unannounced inspections by local veterinary services and beyond. The guidelines are published and are available on my Department's website. It is important to note that dog breeding establishments must comply with the relevant health and safety legislation. Dog breeding establishments must also comply with relevant animal welfare legislation such as the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.”
“In the interim, I have been working on reviewing all of the legislative enforcement and engagement issues relating to the control of dogs. I intend to bring forward specific legislation in relation to dog breeding establishments very shortly, which will then go through the full rigours of the legislative process here, as committed to. The Dog Breeding Establishments Act, as it exists, provides a robust regulatory framework for the licensing, monitoring and inspection of dog breeding establishments by local authorities, where a serious and immediate threat exists to public health or animal health and welfare for the closure of such establishments. Dog breeding establishments guidelines were establishment under section 15(4) of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 following a public consultation process in 2018.”
“This was to ensure that we would have that joined-up approach to dog control issues, legislative and policy responsibility for the Control of Dogs Act and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act and have that transferred from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to my Department. That happened on 1 June 2025 and 1 August 2025, respectively. Regarding dog welfare, the dog control stakeholder group was established in 2024 with a remit to consider policy and legislative matters, specifically the dog control Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act and consider any need for legislative change. Three sub-groups of a stakeholder group were established to focus on specific areas relating to dog control and welfare. I expect a report to be submitted to me from that group very shortly.”
“I thank Deputy Whitmore for raising this important matter. I thank her for facilitating it being moved to today so that I could take it myself, which I wanted to do. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy Grealish, for having taken the Bill in my absence the last time it was discussed. Animal welfare in general comes under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine but, as the Deputy will be aware, it was a key commitment in the programme for Government to have a joined-up approach to dog control issues, something I fought for and advocated for during the negotiations on the programme for Government.”
“However, at a time when I have to manage that budget out to the end of 2027, I have to introduce ranking selection to make sure policy priorities are reflected as well.”
“I have a very significant budget to expend - it was €90 million last year and is similar again this year - but I have to meet all of my policy objectives throughout this term, such as generational renewal an nutrient storage at a rate of 60% rate because we know how important the nitrates derogation is to farmers in County Kerry as well as throughout the country. Farm safety is a key element of the investments that farmers are making in livestock facilities because we want to keep those farmers safe as well. We continue to review this. I would love to be able to do even more. TAMS is the type of investment that has a long-lasting benefit. That is why I want to continue to be able to do provide it.”
“I get that point. TAMS covers the period of the CAP, so our CAP funding and CAP schemes all run until the end of 2027. This opened in 2023. We are negotiating a new CAP. I do not know whether that will be ready or in place by 2027. Decisions on whether there will be a TAMS beyond that will depend on how much funding I have and how I am able to target it. I threw a lot of figures at the Senator in my initial response. However, it is important to reflect here that, in simple terms, there is a massive increase in the number of farmers applying across all elements of TAMS 3 compared with TAMS 2. Yes, there are more disappointed farmers because more have applied.”
“The importance of farm safety and our unacceptably high levels of farm fatalities across all sectors are acknowledged and, therefore, I decided to approve all eligible applications under the farm safety capital investment scheme and keep it at 100%. TAMS continues to be a hugely successful scheme. Supports this year will amount to some €90 million, with a similar allocation for next year. We are continuing to provide support to farmers to upgrade and invest in their holdings. Obviously, we are seeing a significant increase in the number of applications. That is why there is a need to manage that budget out until the end of 2027.”
“I will now focus on particular sub-schemes within TAMS 3, specifically in tranche 10. A reduction of 90% has been applied to expenditure on the solar capital investment scheme. Senator Kennelly has clearly articulated frustrations in this regard. That 90% reduction is acknowledging the fact that the expenditure of almost €32.5 million under the solar scheme accounts for approximately 20% of the total TAMS 3 expenditure to date. In view of the critical importance of nutrient storage investments, which are available across four of the schemes, namely, the animal welfare nutrient storage scheme, the organic capital investment scheme, the young farmer capital investment scheme and the women farmer capital investment scheme, a lower reduction of 60% has been applied.”
“Despite the significant budget available for TAMS over the period 2023 to 2027, due to the scale of approval numbers issued to date - a total of 45,987 approvals, or three times the equivalent under TAMS 2 - it was necessary to introduce ranking and selection for tranche 9, which closed for applications in September 2025, and again for tranche 10, which closed for applications in December 2025. This was also the case with TAMS 2, when it became necessary to apply ranking and selection midway through the programme. It is not unusual. My Department will continue to review the overall funding position on an ongoing basis. Ultimately, I need to be able fund the last tranche in 2027 in the same way I am funding tranches now. The budget must be managed. The ranking marking criteria are available on my Department’s website.”
“Support for both LESS and nutrient storage investments are part of a cross-departmental collaborative approach to ensure the continued use of the nitrates derogation and the protection of water quality in Ireland. In this regard, since 2015, over €163 million has been paid to farmers to support significant investments on Irish farms in manure storage and low-emission slurry spreading technology. The supports available under TAMS for the installation of solar panels are in keeping with the commitment to assist farmers to address climate and sustainability targets. To date, over 3,400 farmers have received approval to proceed with works, while 1,629 farmers have installed panels and received grant aid for their completed investment. The Senator understandably raised a point about ranking and selection.”
“The issuing of approvals, allowing farmers to proceed with their investments, and the processing of payment claims are generally within the timelines set out in the farmers’ charter. A total of 63,754 applications have been received across the first 11 tranches of the scheme. Payments to the value of almost €156 million have issued to over 17,000 participants. They are issuing at a rate of approximately €2 million per week. When it comes to investing in sustainability, I will briefly focus on two specific investments within TAMS. As the Senator is aware, the practice of low-emission slurry spreading, LESS, is an important, environmentally sustainable technology that will facilitate Ireland meeting its environmental commitments through reductions in ammonia and other reactive nitrogen emissions from soil.”
“I thank Senator Kennelly for raising the matter and the opportunity to provide an update on progress with the implementation of TAMS 3. Overall, TAMS 3 has proven extremely popular, with an unprecedented level of applications received, at three times the average number received per tranche compared with TAMS 2. The submission of applications commenced in 2023 under the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, strategic plan from 2023 to 2027. The need to put new administrative and IT structures in place while simultaneously opening and rolling out the new scheme for participants meant that it took longer than hoped to commence the issuing of approvals and payments. Despite these initial delays, the scheme has been operating efficiently and at pace for some time, with delays now effectively eliminated.”
“I understand how important it is that we deliver a scheme that supports our farmers, farm contractors, fishers and forestry contractors through this most difficult of times. Recognising that challenge, there is a good rationale for the entire State and every citizen in it to support them. I thank the Senators for their support and look forward to being back before them in the near future.”
“In terms of the importance of live exports, Ireland has a very high standard of animal welfare. This is something that I have responsibility for and that I take very seriously. Senator Scahill referred to new entrants. We provide for new entrants in other schemes. My clear commitment to Macra, which raised this with me directly, is that there would be provision for somebody who is a first-time farmer this year and who did not farm last year. We have to design that. It is my hope and intention to be able to devise a way to do that for new contractors as well, but, obviously, we also have to protect taxpayers' money in that regard. Senator O'Reilly missed my earlier contribution. In it, I touched on a lot of the points the Senator raised. Those are most of the points I want to make. I thank Senators for this debate.”
“When I have the Presidency of the AGRIFISH Council, in designing the new CAP, I am determined that we deliver simplification. I am on the record previously as saying that means fewer schemes. It means less paperwork to get whatever money we have - we will fight for more money because we do not have enough in it - delivered as easily as possible. It is absolutely our intention to support fishers. Senators Kyne and Boyle were in contact with me in respect of inshore fisheries as well and the €5 million monthly. We are at an advanced stage on designing a new scheme there as well. Senator Conway spoke of managing expectations. I am. My expectation is that I will have a scheme open for farmers and contractors very soon and that I will be able to pay them soon after.”
“Food security is about the integrated nature of global food supply chains. It is not about producing everything here ourselves. However, that is a matter for a wider debate. In response to Senator Noonan's points on regenerative agriculture, there is a lot happening in that space. Getting back to the point, let us not distil it down into too much simplification from a food security perspective. Senator O'Donovan spoke about simplification and asked whether I would consider a review of all schemes. We have that coming up in the form of the reform of the CAP. We will hold the Presidency of the EU Council in the second half of this year. I am not being glib in saying that. I am actually saying that the Senator is dead right, but this is the huge opportunity.”
“The direct answer to Senator O'Reilly's question is that I completely disagree with Leo Varadkar's comments. The reason I believe he is wrong is because activity in rural Ireland drives our rural economy. Our urban dwellers love to go on holidays down the country over the summer. It is not only the tourism industry that has our vibrant rural communities. It is our fishers and our farmers and the work they do all year round that drives those communities on and that ensures that our countryside is well kept and that Ireland is a beautiful place to visit. This is as a result of our rural towns and villages being driven on because of the multiplier effect created by our farmers spending money locally and by their making money from producing beef and dairy products and exporting them.”
“The introduction of the agrifood regulator, which I have granted additional powers, is a direct support to equalise the balance between the primary producer, the processor and the retailer and, in that space, the vulnerability that the primary producer has had in the past. A ban on below-cost selling will only drive more money into the supermarkets' pockets. You cannot guarantee that money gets back to the primary producer. We have to protect the primary producer - I absolutely see that - and we have to protect our system. To challenge the overall point the Senator made to the effect that exporting food is bad and that importing food is bad, there is an inference there that we should just get back to sustainability. There was a great deal of subsistence farming in the 1950s, and we were a very poor country.”
“That is fair enough. I accept that. It is important to make that point. The clarity Senator McCormack referenced will be coming soon, but we have made huge progress in regard to the mechanics of how this operates. Senator Cosgrove painted a bleak picture of the challenges and the concerns that exist. In the context of the points she made - I do not have time to dwell on this but I would love to get into a longer debate on it - I bring to her attention the fact that we have interventions that support our more marginal sectors, such as the vegetable sector, that are struggling.”
“Did she? Okay. To be clear, €750 million is also another way of saying three quarters of a billion euro. For anybody to try to minimise that intervention and say that it is not enough, we would be getting into magic money tree territory if we were to say that we just need more and more. We have to manage that. I was just double-checking that was not a deliberate attempt to minimise what is on offer.”
“I will be the first Minister for agriculture ever to have a directly targeted scheme based on usage to which contractors will be able to apply. Of course, they cannot see that because they have not experienced it before. However, the best way to do it is on the basis of their usage, etc. We will do that in a targeted way. Senator Collins mixed up her thousands with her millions when she referred to a figure of €750,000. It is €750 million of an intervention.”
“Every farmer who uses a contractor will benefit from that, just as they will benefit from the subsidy themselves. Senator Daly's point on food security is relevant. The scheme details will be available as soon as possible. We are working night and day on that. We have made great progress in a little over a week on in. The Senator's point around fuel distributors is also valid. I will be meeting with representatives from a number of the banks tomorrow. In engaging with them, I will make the point about ensuring that latitude is given and that there will be forbearance. A key point, which was highlighted by Senators Collins, McCormack and O'Reilly, is that contractors just want the reduction at the pumps. Senator O'Reilly said that this is the only way contractors can see it happen. That is because they never had a scheme previously.”
“There was the option of direct intervention in a flat rate per hectare payment, which would be quicker but would not be targeted on usage. The clear majority view was it was better to design a new scheme, which takes time because you are not working off the blueprint of a previous scheme. We never had a scheme for contractors before. We are making great progress in having that open for applications very soon. There will be no delay but it takes a little more time do something new. It was the majority view across the representative bodies to have something targeted based on usage. Contractors by their nature use a lot more, so they will get more of the subsidy than individual farmers, but that benefits every contractor's customer because they will see a lower contractor bill than they would have if this intervention had not been made.”
“I am not in a position to give any commitments beyond the €100 million and where we are at. I do not know what the future holds or if interventions will be needed. In making the case I did to my Cabinet colleagues when seeking €100 million to support farmers, fishers and farm contractors, I reflected that we were in the busiest time of the year for the use of green diesel in agricultural activity and producing our food. Whether you are a dairy, tillage or other kind of farmer, we are heading into a very busy silage season and into July we will be into the cereal season. This intervention is a direct support at the time it is needed the most. On the points articulated across the House about the cash flow challenges posed for contractors, in all of my engagements with farm organisations, I put two options to them.”
“A few other contributors asked what the future held. We do not know for sure. We do not control the cause of the energy shock. We did not create the war between Iran, the US and Israel and we cannot be sure when it will end. We all hope and pray it will end as soon as possible, primarily for the people directly affected, but also to be able to get back to a more normal way of operating. I am acutely aware of the impact energy shocks have on everyone's lives. That is why the Government cannot spend every euro available to it now. To those who ask us to do so, it would not be a responsible thing for the Government to do. We have to manage and have a robustness in the Exchequer funds that allows us to get through what could be a very tough winter and to have that set of interventions.”
“A private individual has the option to purchase an electric car and put solar panels on their house but a farmer who has a tractor does not have the alternative of an electric tractor. This has to be reflected upon. It is a challenge for us. Senator Boyhan referenced farm bodies and representative groups of farm contractors, as did Senator Paul Daly, and asked that I engage with them. They have a mandate from their members but we listen to everybody. We engage with the people. We are messengers of the people as TDs and Members of the Upper House. Similarly, Members' engagement as elected representatives of the Oireachtas is also important in terms of their input in our policy-making. I respect the mandate of everybody here. That is why when they ring and they reach out, I am happy to refer back. Senator Daly asked if it would be enough.”
“It had challenges at the start. I was not happy with it when I came in. I worked closely with my officials and we have it going very well. Those farmers were very appreciative of receiving that payment. They are the farmers who put their hand up for a higher environmental ambition in their work, taking on that extra measure, and they are being supported in doing that. On the points around carbon tax throughout this debate, in excess of €1.5 billion is the cost of ACRES because we took in additional people who applied in the second round. Some €170 million of carbon tax this year goes to fund that element of ACRES. Farmers are direct recipients and beneficiaries of that. I take on board the genuine points expressed about that and the lack of an alternative source.”
“On that basis, the Government was far from profiteering. This is all taxpayers' money. We were using it in a very targeted way, as we clearly did again subsequently. Senator Boyhan spoke about simplification, clarity and the need to manage expectations. He made a point around fodder schemes and tillage supports. I have an ongoing budgetary process. I always have to agree a clear set of priorities for the year in terms of next year's budget and beyond. I will continue to do that. Work in my Department never stops. Previous schemes and communication are important. A number of Senators referenced ACRES. I think Senator Collins referenced it in particular. I am very proud this week that we have expended €37 million of taxpayers' money on 47,000 farmers in balancing payments under ACRES. It is a properly functioning scheme.”
“When the price of fuel went up, Exchequer funds were increased by about €4 million a week as a result. When we introduced the first package of €250 million, that was an Exchequer intervention to support the public across a range of areas to the tune of €4 million a day. We have as a Government used taxpayers' money by taking away and covering the NORA levy as well. We are subsidising fuel now by around 32 cent a litre, so it is far from profiteering, which was the message that deliberately misled the people through social media in very simple terms. It takes a few minutes for me to explain that back. This is the challenge the Government will always have - "When you are explaining, you are losing". It is hard to win over hearts and minds when you have to explain these intricacies but the Government will continue to do that.”
“It is expected that this will come into effect in the coming weeks across the EU, which is an important point to reflect on as well. The Senator also asked about price caps. There is a good reason we have not introduced price caps - they do not work. International evidence from Hungary, France and Slovenia shows they can lead to shortages, queues and rationing. It does not remove the costs, but transfers them from the individual to the taxpayer, which is still everybody's money. It costs billions of euro in the short term and would significantly undermine economic stability, leaving consumers much worse off. It is not in people's best interests to have price caps. I am happy to be able to clarify that. Senator Brady also asked if the Government was profiteering from this.”
“As to how soon it will be open for applications, as soon as possible. We have made good progress since I got approval last Sunday week. I anticipate I will be able to bring this to Cabinet very soon to be able to open for applications. We are making progress. I ask people to bear that in mind. On who will be covered, the scheme is focused from a farmer's perspective on the undertaking that it is active primary production of agricultural products on farms. There is a clear definition from the Commission as to what that is. Farmers and contractors are both covered. Senator Brady asked about state aid requirements. Discussions are ongoing around a state aid temporary framework to cater for the consequences of the crisis in the Middle East.”
“Some of the contributions make it sound like there is a bottomless pit or it is our or someone else's money, but it is the people's money. We are charged through the democratic process with minding it and using it to the best of our ability to support the public. That is what we are doing in supporting our farmers, fishers, farm contractors, hauliers and more. Farmers and farm contractors will have to prove their usage in 2025. There is a very good reason for that. If they were proving their usage in 2026, we would not be able to pay them until after the end of the process. We want to pay them before this process ends. This covers until the end of July. It is my clear intention that people will be paid in advance of that because they need the money quickly. As to how soon this can be done, as soon as possible.”
“People in this House were elected through a democratic process as well. That process gives us the power that is derived from the people. When future elections come, those who are not Members of this House or the Lower House but who wish to be will have the ability to put their names forward. Until then, we have been charged by the people democratically to make decisions to protect these sectors as much as we can. We do that to the best of our ability. Senator Brady talked about simplification, which he made very clear in his point. He asked about 2026 and 2025. This is based on usage in 2025. It will be self-declaration. When talking about simplification, it does not get any easier than self-declaration but there will be a robust audit process because this is taxpayers' money. We will always protect taxpayers' money.”
“I thank all of the Members who contributed to today's debate and put forward thought-provoking points and clearly articulated the experiences they have had in recent weeks. I have highlighted a number of questions they want answered, which I will go through. I reflect on some of the comments made about how Government engaged with the public and beyond that. The point about democracy was referenced in simple terms. I am a democrat, and I am proud of our democracy. I will fight to the death for people's right to have a different view to mine and to be clearly able to articulate that in a constructive way. Any power I have in my role as Minister for agriculture and as a TD is derived from the people through the democratic process. We have elections. Those processes come and go.”
“It means that we have to clearly agree a definition of a farmer and we have to agree thresholds and the normal parameters that there would be in any scheme to be able to reassure people that it will provide value for money for the taxpayer. I thank people for their support and recognise that this is a significant intervention by the Government to support our farmers, fishers and farm contractors.”
“My engagement with the farm contractors of Ireland and beyond has been about meeting the programme for Government commitment, established last year, to establish a working group within my Department. That working group has now been established and I am very proud to say has already met. The contractors now have a dedicated resource within my Department to work through a number of issues that have been a concern for a long time. I am really proud that my legacy in the Department will be one of increased support and a better standing for contractors than they had heretofore. This is also the first ever time that we will have a scheme that is dedicated to contractors as well as farmers while differentiating between the two. That brings its own challenges.”
“That business model was going to be greatly challenged in this space so it was right, for the reasons I outlined in terms of the impact on inflation and the cost of living for every citizen in the State, to support our farmers, fishers and hauliers. As an exporting nation and an island, we are so dependent on hauliers for moving products around. If we had allowed costs to run to such a level that they challenged the business model to such an extent, then we would risk increasing the costs of the products that hauliers deliver. Supporting them supports every citizen in the State. There is a very strong financial case for supporting our farmers during this period and for directing support to contractors.”
“State aid rules and the implications of any work we do are also a consideration. These are issues the Government has to work on that the public do not see at face value. I understand that the very viability of some businesses is potentially challenged and people are seeing the very real risks in trying to make the numbers stack up. Contractors faced increases in their diesel bills, at the busiest time of the year, of potentially €70,000 or €80,000. They had real concerns about not being able to access the credit that they would normally access. I know from my own farm at home that generally the system works on the basis of the contractor carrying out the work at the busiest time of the year and the farmer paying later in the year when the cattle are sold or the grain cheque comes in.”
“The Government is also deferring the planned increase in carbon tax scheduled for 1 May until the budget. This will impact green diesel and non-propellant fuels such as kerosene, heating oil, natural gas and solid fuels. The reductions in excise on fuel for consumers take effect from 14 April and run until 31 July. The NORA levy reduction will also run until 31 July. I thank colleagues in the House for their ongoing engagement through what has been a very difficult period for the country and for everybody who serves in public office. As we strive to help those most affected by these challenges, we have to manage and navigate a number of hurdles that present themselves. The transposition of the energy directive into Irish law is important and from a European perspective, our engagement with Europe is also really important.”
“On 12 April the Government announced a new package of measures on fuel costs to support the transport, farming and fisheries sectors, reducing excise on a VAT inclusive basis as follows: diesel by a further 10 cent, bringing the total reduction on auto diesel to 31 cent per litre; petrol by a further 10 cent per litre, bringing the total reduction to 27 cent per litre; and marked gas oil or green diesel by a further 2.4 cent, bringing the total reduction to 7.4 cent per litre. These overall reductions include the NORA levy reduction. Green diesel or marked gas oil, while appearing to be a relatively smaller decrease, is subject to a reduced rate of excise duty compared to petrol and auto diesel. The combined reductions mean that non-carbon excise duty on green diesel is now zero.”
“It meant that in the first intervention farmers felt that it had very little benefit for them compared with the broader package but I was, at that time, working on the broader package. I was working with the contractors' association and beyond. It was very important that we continued to develop a new scheme so that, for the first time ever, we would have a dedicated, targeted scheme for contractors as well as farmers. Following that initial package I continued to engage with agricultural stakeholders. In early April the Tánaiste and I met farm and farm contractor representatives. I held a further meeting with a wide range of agrifood stakeholders on 10 April, followed by a series of bilateral meetings on 11 April.”