Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2021
472. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his response to the withdrawal of an organisation (details supplied) from discussions surrounding industrial hemp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49056/21]
View answerFurther to the commitment in the current Programme for Government (PfG) to “fully explore the potential for growing fibre crops such as hemp, considering whether these crops have a viable market”, my Department initiated a consultation process with relevant stakeholders.
Concerns regarding the scope of the consultation were raised by the organisation (details supplied) and I am disappointed that the organisation declined the Department’s invitation to participate in the consultation as currently structured.
The Deputy should know that the consultation is being conducted on the basis of the economic viability of fibre crops such as hemp and is fully in line with the Programme for Government commitment. i.e. stakeholders were asked to examine the commercial viability of growing hemp or other crops for fibre. It was made clear to stakeholders that it was not the purpose of this consultation to deal with legislative issues that come under the Misuse of Drugs legislation or indeed hemp derived food products which do not primarily come under the remit of my Department. The issues surrounding tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and the Misuse of Drugs legislation were addressed in a consultation on hemp in 2018.
While the closing date for receipt of submissions under the consultation process has passed, officials in my Department are happy to engage with the organisation named on matters that fall within my Department’s scope and area of responsibility.
