Agriculture Industry
Dail Éireann — 2026-03-19
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Martin Heydon (FG), Kildare South

I thank the Deputy. It is timely this year because 2026 has been identified by the United Nations as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. My Department recently held a conference to launch the year in Ireland and to celebrate International Women's Day. I was delighted to announce the new International Year of the Woman Farmer ambassador, who will represent Ireland in Irish agriculture. She will raise awareness of existing supports and highlight issues that are important to women farmers. Further events for the International Year of the Woman Farmer will be held throughout the year. The calibre of applicants for that ambassador role was really impressive, as was the debate that took place on the day of the conference in Athlone. I was delighted to be able to attend and participate in part of that event.
This is an issue that is close to my heart. I know the barriers that are there for female farmers. My dad died when I was eight. At the age of 43, my mother became that female farmer. That was not easy in 1986, and it is not easy today either for female farmers. We want to break those barriers.
For many of the farmers who are operating on farms, their voice is not heard and their name is not seen on Department documents but they are integral part of the farming system. Those farmers are all over the country and it is about elevating them. There are a number of policy measures in the action plan, and it remains a top priority for me.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-03-19/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:45+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-19