Written Answers Nos. 141-153
141. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount paid out under the fuel income support scheme announced by his Department; and the total number of people who have applied for the scheme since it opened. [35067/26]
View answerThe Fuel Income Support Scheme opened for applications last Wednesday May 6th and remains open until 27th May 2026. More than 1,270 applications were submitted to the Fuel Income Support Scheme in its first two days.
I introduced a scheme after engagement with the farm representative bodies that is straightforward, targeted and capable of getting money to farmers and farm contractors very quickly. The need for payments to start as soon as possible has been emphasised and we are enabling this and will continue to assist both farmers and farm contractors with their applications.
My Department engaged with representative bodies in terms of scheme design and operation on an ongoing basis. A meeting was held on the morning of the scheme opening with stakeholders to demonstrate the application system. My Department will continue to assist both farmers and contractors with their applications.
The scheme will, for the first time, provide a direct support to farm contractors, recognising the vital work they play in our farming systems.
The application form has been designed to minimise the administrative burden and the number of applications to date indicates how straightforward the application process is for both farmers and contractors.
Payments under the scheme are planned to commence in June.
144. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has undertaken any assessment of the ecological and biodiversity benefits associated with protecting the native Irish honey bee population; the measures currently in place to prevent genetic dilution from imported honey bees; the supports available for conservation breeding and native bee monitoring programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35736/26]
View answerFollowing legal advice in relation to the Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021, my Department sought tenders for research services on the native Irish honey bee (Apis mellifera mellifera). The tender sought independent scientific evidence in the form of a comprehensive assessment of the threat to the Native Irish honey bee Apis mellifera mellifera and the impact upon biodiversity and the ecosystem from the introgression/crossing/cross-breeding of the native Irish Honey Bee, with non-native species or sub-species of and/or strains derived from Apis mellifera imported to Ireland.
In October 2023, a 12-month contract was signed with the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG) for the provision of these research services. The research work concluded in December 2024, and the research report was subsequently evaluated by an external expert. Following the completion of the evaluation, the research service provider (NUIG) was afforded the opportunity to respond to the evaluator’s comments and these comments were received in September 2025. My Department is currently finalising the overall response to the report.
Trade in bees is permitted and governed by EU law. EU Animal Health Regulations set down rules for entry of bees into and movement within the EU. These EU Regulations contain specific provisions to safeguard the health of bees located in the territory of the Union.
My Department is very supportive of beekeepers and beekeeping associations in their efforts in the conservation of the native Irish honey bee. The Annual Grants to Irish National Beekeepers Federations which is Exchequer funded provides an annual grant to the four Irish National Beekeepers Federations. In 2025, the four national beekeeping federations received a total of €25,500 through this measure for initiatives, including the conservation of the native Irish honey bee.
My Department also provides funding under Conservation of Plant and Animal Genetic Resources Scheme. The Native Irish Honey Bee Society (NIHBS) received funding in 2021 and 2024 under this scheme for projects related to the conservation of the native Irish honey bee and their application under the 2026 Scheme has also been approved.
My Department also supports Irish beekeeping through the provision of grant aid for capital investments by individual beekeepers in specialised beekeeping related equipment and structures including specialised bee breeding equipment. In addition, €121,000 was paid out under the National Apiculture Programme (NAP) in 2025 to support beekeeping through an approved applied research project.
145. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he has taken to reduce food prices for ordinary consumers. [35674/26]
View answerAs Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I have no role in determining or intervening in prices for agri-food commodities at farm gate or retail level. Market prices are a commercial matter between suppliers and buyers.
It is also important to note that agricultural input prices are only one element of food prices. The final cost also includes processing, transportation, packaging, marketing, and retail costs.
My Department, however, continues to monitor trends in agricultural inputs and outputs. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) reports monthly on the Agricultural Price Output Index, which tracks the prices paid to farmers for their produce, and the Agricultural Price Input Index, which tracks the prices paid by farmers for purchases of goods and services. These prices are sensitive to geopolitical and global economic trends and shocks and have seen considerable volatility since 2021.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) release, "Output, Input and Income in Agriculture - Preliminary Estimate 2025", indicates broadly positive trading conditions in 2025 for farmers, when compared to the output price volatility of recent years. Intermediate consumption – which includes fertiliser, feeding stuffs and energy costs – increased by 2 percent (+€190million) to €7.9 billion. The value of Goods Output at Producer Prices grew by over 12% o(+€1.5 billion) to €13.2 billion. A Final Estimate will be published later this year.
While these estimates are positive, the current crisis in the Middle East is of concern. Agriculture in Ireland and the EU is vulnerable to shocks in the availability and price of inputs, and in particular, animal feed, fertiliser and fuel due to limited internal production capacity and a reliance on imports. While Ireland has limited direct trade with the Middle East region for agricultural inputs, there is a risk of exposure to long-term disruption in international supply chains.
The Government recognised the exceptional pressure that rising fuel costs are placing on our farmers, contractors, and fishers, and has been in close contact with representative bodies in recent weeks. A substantial support package has been put in place, with the full removal of all non-carbon excise on green diesel of 7.4c/l. I announced a further income support payment worth up to 20c/l through the €100 million Fuel Income Support Scheme, designed to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers facing the significant increases in fuel costs. My Department will continue to monitor the evolving situation.
I would also highlight the role of An Rialálaí Agraibhia (The Agrifood Regulator) in relation to the market. It ensures compliance with, and enforcement of, legislation on unfair trading practices in the agri-food supply chain and also provides information on the agri-food supply chain through the analysis of price and market data.
146. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will enact legislation to strengthen dog control measures in regard to the worrying of sheep; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35484/26]
View answerSheep worrying has a profound impact on farmers and rural communities. I fully recognise the gravity of this issue. I believe robust traceability measures are central to ensuring that dog owners can be held accountable where their animals are involved.
In February, my Department commenced a media awareness campaign urging dog owners to take due care and act responsibly in any instances where there may be a risk to livestock, particularly sheep, in the critical lambing season for the sheep farming community. Responsible dog ownership including effective control of dogs in a countryside setting is an important matter. I am personally invested in making a difference in this area. I look forward, along with my Department, to engaging proactively in terms of wide-ranging awareness campaigns across relevant platforms throughout 2026, on issues around responsible dog ownership, including sheep worrying.
Regarding the legislation in the area, a high-level Dog Control Stakeholder Group was established in 2024 to review the Control of Dogs Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. Its remit was and is to consider policy and legislative matters in relation to those Acts and consider any need for legislative change. The stakeholder group comprises members with a broad range of expertise including academics, veterinary surgeons, local authorities, farming interests, charities working in the field and animal welfare experts.
I am committed to reviewing all legislation relating to dogs and in this regard will be guided by the recommendations of the Dog Control Stakeholder Group. I expect the report of the Stakeholder Group to be submitted to me imminently and I will fully consider all of their recommendations, including any in relation to dog control legislation, which it can be anticipated will include reference to livestock worrying, particularly with respect to sheep.
147. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider amending the strict deadlines for slurry spreading in view of changing weather patterns and increasing rainfall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34341/26]
View answerI would like to begin by acknowledging that weather conditions this year have presented significant challenges for many farmers, often disrupting and delaying normal agricultural activity.
The Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters Regulations, or the GAP Regulations, (S.I. 588 of 2025, as amended) sets out the periods when the application of manures to land is prohibited. These are often termed, the closed period, with these Regulations signed into law by my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The GAP Regulations also set out the circumstances when soiled water, organic or chemical fertilisers must not be applied to land during the open spreading period. These include, when the land is waterlogged, flooded or likely to flood, or when Met Éireann forecasts heavy rain within 48 hours.
Underpinning the need for a closed period, there is clear Irish research highlighting that the closed period aligns with the periods of highest risk for nutrient loss from land.
There is now a significantly increased focus on water quality across the entire agri-food sector.
Farmers have been making great strides in implementing actions at farm level to improve water quality and the Government is providing strong incentives to support this work which is underpinned by science.
Part of these efforts relate to improved timing of nutrient application to align with the crop's needs and maximising the value of the nutrients present in organic manures.
As advised by Teagasc, slurry should be spread when the potential for Nitrogen losses is low and the uptake of nutrients by a growing crop is high. These conditions typically occur in the Spring, and not the Autumn, where reducing sunshine hours increasingly limit growth and increase the risk of nutrient loss. Indeed, during the Winter, regardless of how good weather conditions are, short daylight hours limit growth and the ability of crops to take up nutrients.
The GAP Regulations were reviewed and updated in December 2025 and there are no plans at this time to further review those regulations.
149. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm that payments to farmers and agricultural contractors under the fuel support scheme will be quick and swift and implemented with a minimum of bureaucracy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35733/26]
View answerThe Fuel Income Support Scheme opened for applications last Wednesday May 6th and remains open until 27th May 2026. More than 1,270 applications were submitted to the Fuel Income Support Scheme in its first two days.
I introduced a scheme after engagement with the farm representative bodies that is straightforward, targeted and capable of getting money to farmers and farm contractors very quickly. The need for payments to start as soon as possible has been emphasised and we are enabling this and will continue to assist both farmers and farm contractors with their applications.
My Department engaged with representative bodies in terms of scheme design and operation on an ongoing basis. A meeting was held on the morning of the scheme opening with stakeholders to demonstrate the application system. My Department will continue to assist both farmers and contractors with their applications.
The scheme will, for the first time, provide a direct support to farm contractors, recognising the vital work they play in our farming systems.
The application form has been designed to minimise the administrative burden and the number of applications to date indicates how straightforward the application process is for both farmers and contractors.
151. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide information on the fuel support scheme that will be made available to fishermen. [35070/26]
View answerI am acutely aware of the concerns of fishermen and women around the effects of the Middle East conflict on fuel prices. I recognise that while supports have already been put in place by Government, these have recently been improved with the announcement by Minister Heydon and myself of a €100 million Fuel Support Scheme to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers facing unprecedented increases in fuel costs.
A total of €15 million of this funding will be available for vessels in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. A tailored fuel support scheme for fishers is being developed, subject to EU State Aid requirements. My officials are finalising the scheme details with BIM and it will open shortly.
152. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her views in relation to Taiwan's participation in the 79th World Health Assembly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35944/26]
View answer153. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her views on the merits of engaging at a Government level with Taiwan in relation to infectious disease prevention, digital health transformation, global population ageing and any other health topics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35945/26]
View answer156. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Government's position in relation to Taiwan's participation in the 79th World Health Assembly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35942/26]
View answer157. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding any discussion or debate at EU Council level in relation to Taiwan's participation in the 79th World Health Assembly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35943/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 152, 153, 156 and 157 together.
Ireland, together with our EU partners, adheres to the One China Policy. This means recognising the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal representative of China, and that we do not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. However, this does not preclude the development of economic, cultural and people-to-people connections with Taiwan; nor the meaningful participation of Taiwan in relevant multilateral fora, as appropriate.
Ireland believes that multilateral organisations should be inclusive where appropriate. In coordination with our EU partners, Ireland has in the past supported Taiwan’s meaningful participation in multilateral fora dealing, inter alia, with public health, civil aviation safety, transnational crime, economic cooperation, and other issues. Our approach is always examined on a case-by-case basis. Support is only considered in relation to multilateral fora where participation does not imply statehood. Consideration is also given to whether the issues under discussion are ones where Taiwan can bring significant added value.
The World Health Assembly, which takes place this year from 18-23 May, is the decision-making body of the World Health Organisation (WHO), and is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States, as well as by observers. Observers currently include the Holy See and Palestine, international organisations (such as the International Committee of the Red Cross) and regional blocs.
Ireland’s position is that cooperation with Taiwan at a technical level on global health matters, including on topics such as surveillance, preparedness and response capabilities for future pandemics, and health capacity development, falls within the parameters of the One China Policy. On this basis, Ireland has been engaged with the WHO, as part of a group of EU Member States and other countries, on this matter. However, the question of Taiwan's participation as an observer at the World Health Assembly is ultimately a matter for decision by the wider membership of the WHO, and it has not been possible to reach consensus on the matter in recent years.
