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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“We were clear when we announced our initial package of measures last month that we would keep everything under review, conscious of the ongoing global instability. I made it very clear at the time that our first intervention would not be our last. It was very clear at that time, when the move was on the non-carbon excise element of the diesel price, that there was very little of that on green diesel due to the ongoing support the Government provides to our agriculture sector. The fact was that there was very little non-carbon excise on green diesel in the first place. Similarly, it is not on the fuel that fishers use for very good reasons, namely, that this is about food production and beyond.”
“Conscious of this, I have written to the main banking institutions asking them to show forbearance with the agrifood and fisheries sector where cash flow issues are emerging and to continue to support these sectors during periods of financial pressure with access to the appropriate levels of short-term finance. I will be meeting the main banks in the coming days and will emphasise these points to them also. I will speak briefly on the wider package of supports that have been announced. On 24 March the Government introduced €250 million worth of targeted measures to provide temporary reductions in the rates of mineral oil tax applicable to petrol, auto diesel and marked gas oil or green diesel, as we know it. The Government also reduced the NORA levy from 2 cent per litre to a nominal amount for a period of two months.”
“The need for the scheme to be targeted was strongly emphasised in ongoing engagements with the farmer representative bodies and the farm contractor groups and organisations. My Department has undertaken intensive preparations since last week's Cabinet meeting to approve the €100 million fund to implement the fuel support scheme as quickly as possible. Yesterday my Department met farm organisations and contracting bodies to discuss in detail the planned implementation of the scheme and I will shortly update my colleagues in Cabinet on same. Timelines will be carefully managed to co-ordinate with the existing payments schedule and ensure delivery of these supports as soon as possible. Liquidity and cash flow may arise as issues for some farmers and contractors in the coming months.”
“This approach is in line with discussions I have had with key stakeholders, farm organisations, representative bodies and contractor representatives and ensures that funding is directed where it is needed most, that is, helping to sustain essential food production and rural economic activity. It will also, for the first time, provide a direct support to farm contractors, recognising the vital work they do in our farming and forestry systems. This coincides with the first meeting of the farm contracting working group facilitated in line with the programme for Government commitment. Payments will be made through a single application process, with funding allocated based on historic fuel usage in 2025.”
“I understand that my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, will address the House on the specifics of the fisheries support shortly but I am happy to answer any questions Senators may have on that today. A fund of €5 million per month will be provided in a targeted way to support our fishers and specific specialist horticulture and forestry workers. For farmers, agriculture and forestry contractors, this targeted and practical support package, based on actual fuel usage last year, ensures that those who are most exposed to these increases will receive meaningful assistance at a critical time of the year on farms.”
“It is about support for every citizen in the State because when input costs rise, it puts pressure on the price and availability of food for all consumers. Energy shocks without support will lead to significant inflation, particularly in respect of food, on which we all depend. Unchecked, it would have a direct impact on the cost of living for all. By supporting the agrifood sector, our hauliers and all of those reliant on fuel who play a role in getting food from farm to fork, we support everyone. Approximately 120,000 farmers and 1,500 full time agricultural contractors will be eligible to apply for support. There is also provision within this funding to support fishers.”
“This is why the Government approved a substantial package of supports, including the full removal of all non-carbon excise on green diesel to the tune of 7.4 cent per litre and a further payment that will provide support equivalent to 20 cent per litre through a €100 million fuel support scheme. These supports when taken together total 27.4 cent per litre and exceed by nearly 6 cent per litre the entirety of excise, both carbon and non-carbon, charged on green diesel prior to the conflict in the Middle East, which then stood at 21.95 cent per litre. It will benefit farmers and contractors, recognising their central role in sustaining essential food production. This is about much more than just one sector, though.”
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to join Senators today for what is a really important and timely discussion. The Government recognises the exceptional pressure that rising fuel costs is placing and has placed on our farmers, contractors and fishers in particular. I have heard it from friends, neighbours and in my ongoing engagements with all of our agrifood representative bodies in recent weeks, including the main farmer and farm contracting organisations with whom I engage regularly. Green diesel has almost doubled in price, from less than €1 per litre in a matter of weeks, right at the time when farmers and contractors are in the middle of a very busy spring season and facing into a very busy silage season too. The same is true on the fisheries side.”
“That does not say compassion to me. No one in this House has a monopoly on compassion. The Opposition talks about ordinary people as though we do not. It is clear what they are doing. The use of language matters, as a colleague said earlier.”
“Deputy Collins talked about frustration. Yesterday on "Morning Ireland" he spoke to farmers at a volatile time. I absolutely accept how angry people have been and how many people have felt the challenge of the energy shock. After a volatile week when our country has been in a bad place, we all have responsibility. Everyone in this House has a mandate and was elected to help people. That is what we are here for. I do not question the mandate at all, but I do question why someone, after such a volatile weekend when a serious package had been agreed by the Cabinet on the Sunday evening, which Deputy Collins was well aware of, would go on "Morning Ireland" on Monday morning and try to tell people it is only 2.4 cent per litre on green diesel and try to keep the protest going and to make people who are upset and hurting more upset and hurting.”
“We have to explain the constraints around the energy directive, how it needs to work around state aid rules with the EU and how that takes time. We were not in a position to do more on green diesel in the first intervention, but it has taken me time here to explain that, as it would in an interview. I cannot make a short, snappy TikTok video, which I suspect was the intention of Deputy Doherty when he was here earlier putting on the record that the intervention on green diesel was only 4 cent, wherever he got that figure from.”
“I am making the point. I am not attacking. I am making the point that the interventions the Government has brought in, and the packages beyond the excise measures we are voting on here, will directly support all people in their lives and will help to avoid the cost-of-living crisis that impacts on everyone. Things do not happen in isolation. Deputy Hearne talked about people not being able to cover the basics. It is the same point with where people are struck there. Deputy Tóibín talked about the inability to talk to people and to listen. I have been engaging with the farmer representative bodies, the fishers and others for weeks on developing schemes. There are constraints and this is the challenge for the Government.”
“It was a pensioner who could not afford meat as part of her diet. The Deputy specifically mentioned food on a number of occasions. If we do not intervene with the support of our €100 million package for the agrifood sector, it will have a direct impact on the cost of inflation. Energy is the biggest driver of inflation. Food inflation will absolutely have an impact on workers, so telling workers that these measures will not help them is not true. The measures supporting farmers and our package to support hauliers with a €140 million intervention to reduce the cost of logistics services that bring the food from farm to fork directly benefit everyone.”
“The Government has the back of farmers, fishers and foresters and we will support them. Deputy Nash raised that there is nothing here for the ordinary worker and Deputy Cian O'Callaghan talked about individual workers he deals with and the constituents who have come to him and the real impact on people's lives. One of the workers he referenced could not afford meat.”
“Did he explain to the fisher about the €5 million per month of support there will be from March to July as part of the package that has been agreed and that there is no mineral oil tax on fuel for fishers because the State heavily subsidises mineral oil because we value what fishers do? No, he did not, because what he prefers to do as an Opposition spokesperson, as Sinn Féin wants, is to keep everyone whipped up, keep telling them there is a bogeyman over there and someone to blame. It is great to see Deputy Doherty back in the House. I was just highlighting how he misled the Dáil when he said a 4 cent cut will not wash for farmers when the cut on green diesel for farmers is 27.4 cent, comprising the 7.4 cent we are agreeing in these motions and the subsidy of 20 cent per litre on green diesel there will be in the coming months.”
“In responding to the debate, I thank Deputies for raising the points they did. I will go through some of them. Deputy Doherty started off with a fascination with ordinary people. I am not sure who the extraordinary people are who he is not talking about. There are only ordinary people. They are all ordinary people. Somehow he has a monopoly on understanding what ordinary people have to go through and do not. He talked about standing in the farmers' kitchen and understanding how much pressure they were under and about the fishers and how much pressure they were under. One thing struck me. In his discussions with them, did he point out to the farmer the €100 million package that is being delivered this week or the 7.4 cent cut on excise this week that Sinn Féin seems opposed to that is there to help?”
“We have a choice to make here. Those in opposition can attempt to either dismiss or ignore these supports and try to prevent their introduction or they can choose to engage with me and my Department on their roll-out to those who need them most. The choice is theirs.”
“It is about support for every citizen in this State because when input costs rise, it puts pressure on the price and availability of food for all consumers. Energy shocks without support would lead to significant inflation, particularly in respect of food, on which we all depend. Unchecked, it would have a direct impact on the cost of living for all.”
“Green diesel has almost doubled in price, from less than €1 per litre, in a matter of weeks, right at the time when farmers and contractors are in the middle of spring work and facing into a busy silage season. That is why this Government has approved a substantial package of support. It includes the full removal of all non-carbon excise on green diesel, totalling 7.5 cent per litre, and a further support of 20 cent a litre through a €100 million fuel subsidy support scheme for farmers and farm contractors. This support of 27.4 cent a litre will be to the benefit of both farmers and contractors, recognising their central role in sustaining essential food production. This is about much more than just one sector.”
“However, with Government support, our agrifood sector will endure. We grew up as young children on our farms being told there would be no future in farming, because of the impending Maastricht reforms of the early 1990s, but farming endured. We were told that the Fischler reforms, greening, Covid, Brexit and the high cost of imports following the Ukrainian war were each going to be the end of the world for agriculture. However, farming endured and continued, and it will continue to do so into the future with the support of the Government, like it has in the past. We recognise the exceptional pressure that rising fuel costs are placing on our agrifood sector at such a crucial time of the year. I have heard it from friends, neighbours and in my ongoing engagements with representative bodies.”
“I regret the decision of Michael Healy-Rae today. I acknowledge his role as Minister of State with responsibility for forestry and as a good colleague in the Department of agriculture over the past 15 months. As a sector, we in agriculture face plenty of challenges. It is my job to fight for and defend agriculture in the best interests of our farmers, fishers and agrifood sector and because of its importance to our overall economy, and in particular our rural economy. I do this in my Department and at Cabinet and with the support of my colleagues across government. This Government recognises the vital role our farmers, fishers, foresters and farm contractors play across Ireland. The vulnerability of our farmers and fishers to a massive energy shock has greatly concerned us all.”
“As the Deputy will be aware, my Department also operates a confidential animal welfare helpline, through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect for investigation. We work with all the relevant stakeholders in that regard. I thank the Deputy for raising these points.”
“More important than that, and the legislation is clearly set down and comes under my Department, is the welfare of animals. We have lead responsibility for that issue. I take animal welfare seriously and committed to the policy that animal welfare standards are rigorously applied in a fair and even-handed manner. It can sometimes be about the need for additional measures to be legislated for in this House. It is sometimes about the implementation of legislation that exists. With the local authorities, the other relevant authorities and the Garda, there is a key role to play. My Department keeps animal welfare legislation under review with respect to the developments in the area of animal welfare and the practical lessons learned from operating the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.”
“I thank the Deputy for his dedication to this topic. He has raised it on more than one occasion. I absolutely agree that this issue merits attention. From my perspective, there is no shortage of resources being put in from my side. I take on board the Deputy's points about co-ordination. I am happy to work with other stakeholders - the Deputy mentioned An Garda Síochána, the county council and the different entities - to ensure we have a targeted response in key areas. I agree that there are as many people who are passionate about their horses in urban areas as there are in rural areas and they care for them greatly. However, in normal, everyday society, we need to have a clear understanding of what is acceptable activity and what is unacceptable activity in our urban areas, where many people live and share common spaces, and beyond.”
“I am collating the many submissions we got on that. Equine welfare has featured in some of those points. That will feed into our new animal welfare strategy for 2026 to 2030.”
“In December 2025, my Department awarded funding of almost €6.5 million to 94 animal welfare charities throughout the country, under the animal welfare grants programme. Of that figure, just over €4 million was awarded to charities involved in the care and welfare of horses. More generally, in 2025 my Department published a report by Professor Paddy Wall on equine traceability and welfare, and has also prepared an action plan to implement its recommendations. The report by Professor Wall, which has 22 actions, is greatly advanced. I am working closely to ensure its implementation across a whole range of measures relating to urban horses and equines, and otherwise. What happens in this area is important. We completed a public consultation on the Department's animal welfare strategy in January.”
“The projects can foster community leadership and education in responsible horse ownership for young people. An exemplar project of note is one which Deputy Quinlivan is familiar with. This is the Moyross project, which has been in operation since 2016 and has helped so many young people from disadvantaged communities. From 2015 to date, over €2.1 million has been spent on urban horse projects by my Department, with €170,000 allocated for these projects in 2026. The urban horse projects greatly benefit the welfare of equines and of young people from disadvantaged communities or backgrounds. There are seven live projects and my Department would welcome new submissions from local authorities to develop urban horse projects in their respective areas.”
“My Department collects information from local authorities on a quarterly basis in respect of the overall number of equines seized by them. The number of horses seized in Limerick in 2025 was 70. This number is down from 2024, when the number of horses seized was 87. The Government is fully committed to supporting sustainable initiatives in line with the programme for Government and Working Together for Animal Welfare, which is Ireland's animal welfare strategy for 2021 to 2025, with work progressing on the replacement strategy. As part of this commitment, my Department has continued to support urban horse projects nationwide, working with local authorities, charities and community stakeholders. These projects have proven very successful and are aimed specifically at equine welfare and marginalised communities.”
“Primary responsibility for protecting the welfare of equines rests with the owner or keeper. Under the Control of Horses Act 1996, local authorities may take a range of actions in relation to equines, including prohibiting horses in certain areas, issuing licences and seizing horses in contravention of the Act. These powers can be used in respect of straying horses, which includes horses put on land without the owner's permission, including public land as Deputy Quinlivan has described. Local authorities may also prosecute offenders. While my Department provides financial support to help local authorities with the costs of these seizures, local authorities are responsible for the operation of the Control of Horses Act.”
“I thank Deputy Quinlivan for raising this important matter. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is responsible for all policy and legislation in relation to the Control of Horses Act 1996. Operation of the Act comes under the remit of local authorities. Any report of welfare issues received by my Department, including breaches of the animal welfare legislation, is acted upon and investigated. Appropriate enforcement action where breaches or shortcomings are identified is undertaken by my Department and authorised officers are appointed under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, including but not limited to An Garda Síochána, customs agents, local authorities and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, NSPCA.”
“The DRS provides targeted support to operators such as bus companies, who may drop Deputies' children to school; to food delivery trucks, which keep our shelves stocked; and to essential parts of business supply chains, which means business can continue with a cushioned impact. Households and businesses will be indirect beneficiaries of these additional supports to hauliers and bus companies.”
“The cap is reached when the average price per litre of auto diesel is €1.16, excluding VAT. This financial resolution increases the rate to 12 cent per litre. The DRS runs on a quarterly basis and this financial resolution will apply for quarters 1 and 2 of 2026. The backdating of the measure to the beginning of this year is in recognition of the impact on hauliers and bus operators of steep increases in the price of diesel in recent weeks. As the Tánaiste indicated, this temporary and targeted measure is in recognition of the detrimental impact of increasing fuel prices on hauliers and passenger transport operators and of the importance of these sectors to the Irish economy.”
“(2) IT is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution shall have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1927 (No. 7 of 1927). This financial resolution amends the provisions for a partial repayment of mineral oil tax, MOT, on auto diesel purchased in the State and used in qualifying vehicles by licensed Irish and EU road transport operators. The arrangements are generally referred to as the diesel rebate scheme, DRS, which is used by hauliers and bus operators. The draft amendments provide for changes to how DRS repayment rates are determined and for an increase to the cap on these rates to enhance DRS benefits for qualifying operators to assist in mitigating the impact of rising fuel costs. The rate of repayment is currently capped at 7.5 cent per litre.”
“45 of 2019)): "(3) Where – (a) gas oil has been purchased on or after 1 January 2020 and before 1 January 2026, or on or after 1 July 2026, then, subject to a maximum repayment rate of €75.00 per 1,000 litres, the amount to be repaid per 1,000 litres of gas oil under subsection (2) is determined— (i) when P is less than or equal to €1,070, by the formula— A = (P - 1,000) x 0.3, or (ii) when P is greater than €1,070, by the formula— A = 21 + [(P - 1,070) x 0.6], or (b) gas oil has been purchased on or after 1 January 2026 and before 1 July 2026, then, subject to a maximum repayment rate of €120.00 per 1,000 litres, the amount to be repaid per 1,000 litres of gas oil under subsection (2) is determined— (i) when P is less than or equal to €1,070, by the formula— A = (P - 1,000) x 0.3, (ii) when P is greater than €1,070 and less than or equal to €1,150, by the formula— A = 21 + [(P - 1,070) x 0.675], or (iii) when P is greater than €1,150, by the formula— A = 75 + [(P - 1,150) x 4.5], where— A is the amount to be repaid per 1,000 litres, and P is an estimate of the average price (exclusive of value-added tax) in euro per 1,000 litres of gas oil purchased by qualifying road transport operators during the repayment period, as determined in accordance with subsection (4).".”
“I move: 1) THAT section 99A of the Finance Act 1999 (No. 2 of 1999) be amended, with effect as on and from 25 March 2026, by the substitution of the following for subsection (3) (as amended by section 42 of the Finance Act 2019 (No.”
“Coupled with our ten-year strategies in the Department, we have seen the value of Irish food exports grow from €10 billion back in 2011 to €20.8 billion last year and there has been a commensurate rise in farmers' incomes. We want to be very careful, in addressing all of these issues and concerns, that we do not undermine the very structure that is delivering real value back to our farmers.”
“That is it exactly. We want to move on, but we want to ensure that as we do so, there is a clear understanding of the highly integrated nature of food trade globally. We export 90% of our food and drink. It is really important that our farmers clearly understand that. The whole tenor of the debate over the five-week period focused on the 10% consumed in Ireland, understandably, because it is very important market in terms of sentiment and for Irish consumers as well. However, we cannot lose sight of the fact that Bord Bia is an international food board that provides marketing and opportunities for Irish food companies to get the best possible return. That, in turn, gives the best possible return to our farmers and it has been very successful.”
“It will also explain the market requirements, why quality assurance processes require certain amounts of information, how that is monetised and how it allows us to have premiumisation of their produce in the end. That is a really important part of this. We will all be strengthened from that greater collaboration.”
“The reason we are talking about the end of April – which is both a very tight timeline and ambitious – is because it is something I want to bring to a conclusion. There needs to be a lot of honesty in the debate. I agree with Deputy Kenny that we need to reflect on everyone’s fiduciary duties when they sign up to a State board. A great deal of responsibility comes with that, and that applies to every member of a board, not just the chairperson. On the points about farmer representation and the farmer point of view, that will be enhanced by the establishment of the farmers' forum that I proposed at the five-hour stakeholder meeting on 13 February. The farmers' forum will provide a structured forum for two-way feedback because it is just as important that Bord Bia can feed back to farmers.”
“My Department is currently engaged in a procurement process for this review, with a view to completion by the end of April. Bord Bia is also progressing a new farmers forum which I had asked it to establish on foot of a five-hour meeting I had with the six farm organisations and key stakeholders on 13 February to try to bring a resolution to this. The farmers' forum is a vehicle for us to have farmers’ input into every part. Part of the recommendation from Macra na Feirme was that the outworkings of the farmers’ forum will be a standing item at every board meeting of Bord Bia and each of the six farming organisations will get to have input into that which is a key role. It provides another option for renewed engagement between farmers and Bord Bia.”
“The review will specifically consider: the role of the board including the chair; composition, including eligibility, of the board, including the chair; the board’s terms of reference, including clarity in relation to corporate governance framework and implementation; the procedures for and management of conflicts of interest, including consideration of what constitutes a conflict of interest or a perceived conflict of interest as set out in the code of practice for the governance of State bodies; and specific governance related questions that have been raised during the current period. The consultants will engage directly with the board members and executive - the CEO and the secretary to the board - to seek their perspectives, especially in relation to governance issues that have arisen in the current period.”
“The board of Bord Bia met on 2 March to discuss proposals to resolve the situation whereby Bord Bia’s offices were being occupied by protestors. Following that meeting the board issued an agreed statement. This statement noted that the terms of reference of an independent governance review which I had proposed were agreed by the board, and that the protest inside and outside the offices would be stood down. As agreed, my Department is now commissioning an independent review of Bord Bia’s governance framework.”
“It is about being able to premiumise that, as we have seen on the beef and the dairy side. If we can add that premiumisation and increase the value in the product by the story we tell and tillage farmers' work in the area - AgNav is a good example of that - that can lead to positive impacts in the future, as will this investment.”
“I completely concur. We should never have lost the sugar beet industry. It was a detrimental blow to those of us in south Kildare, Laois and beyond who made very good money out of the campaign every year in delivering it into Carlow, as they did in Tuam, Thurles and Mallow. I take the points regarding Alan Ahearne's report on board. It is why the Government has invested and supported Irish agriculture to the extent it has, with record amounts of funding to meet the last CAP plan. The Irish Government was not found wanting in supporting our agriculture sector in matching the European money that came in there. We will continue to do that. It is also about driving more value back into our sector and providing that value-added piece that means our tillage price is not just dealing on commodity markets.”
“I have my €50 million supports through straw incorporation and protein aid, and the €30 million tillage sustainability scheme, which I recently launched. On top of that, it is about the value-added piece. It is about developing a quality assurance scheme for our tillage sector that delivers better value back there. It is this value-added piece that is here. In terms of the money and whether Laois is in the mix, it is up to individual companies to put themselves forward for that now. The Government has made that money available for them.”
“I thought Deputy Stanley was going to break into a bar of Trudi Lalor's "Lovely Laois" for a minute. I am well aware that some of the best tillage land in the country is in Laois because it is right beside Kildare. We have it too. The Deputy has many constituents, as I have, who are dependent, who are tillage farmers and are very worried about the future. They have had three really tough years due to a mixture of bad weather, income challenges and pressures and high input costs and low margin prices. At its heart has been the fact that our tillage sector is largely reliant on world market prices. Unlike the value-added piece that we have managed to introduce on our beef and dairy products, we are not in that space in tillage. I am determined to get there.”
“In line with these commitments, my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Deputy Burke, has approved the development and implementation of a new scheme, to be administered by Enterprise Ireland, to support the establishment of flour milling projects in Ireland. Approval for the scheme was granted in January 2026. I was delighted to be able to launch it with him. It will provide capital investment support for the establishment of large scale flour mills. A total grant budget of €15 million will be made available, and it is envisaged that up to three projects could be supported. Growing that capacity on the processing side will be a real incentive for tillage farmers to look at milling wheat as a greater value-added opportunity as well.”
“The programme for Government commits to examining facilities for the processing of Irish crops and to exploring opportunities for oilseed and milling wheat processing. Additionally, a key recommendation in the Food Vision tillage report is to explore opportunities for milling wheat in Ireland. While there are opportunities to grow milling wheat in Ireland, there are also recognised agronomic and market challenges. However, with collaboration from industry and support from the marketplace, domestic production of milling wheat can play a role in providing a new value-added opportunity in the supply chain for Irish tillage farmers.”
“As is the tillage sector. The tillage sector is an integral part of Irish farming, producing high-quality animal feed and bedding for the livestock sector and ingredients for the food and drink industry. The sector makes a significant contribution to the Irish economy, as the Deputy knows, estimated at €1.9 billion per annum over the 2018 to 2022 period. It is also important in terms of employment and is estimated to support over 11,000 full-time equivalent jobs. This Government is committed to growing the area under tillage crops in line with climate action plan targets. The Food Vision tillage group report sets out a roadmap for the sector’s growth and development, identifying key opportunities to sustainably grow the sector. Adding value to tillage crop output will be crucial to its long-term sustainability and competitiveness.”
“I want to get to a space where daughters are considered every bit as much as sons when the mothers and fathers of farm families are discussing who the likely successors are. This has not been the case historically but it is where we want to get to. These changes will bring about that cultural change for the betterment of Irish agriculture.”