Michael Moynihan
Question:664. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way that the agrifood sector has been strengthened and developed since 27 June 2020. [61720/22]
View answerTuesday, 13 December 2022
Questions (664)
Written answers
Since becoming Minister in September 2020, my sole focus has been improving the livelihoods of our farmers, fishers and food producers. The agri-food sector is our largest and most important indigenous export sector. I want to see it grow and flourish in the years ahead and I am committed to putting it on an even more sustainable footing.
Since publication of the Programme for Government (PFG) in June 2020, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has identified and examined 161 actions in the Agriculture, Food, and the Marine Chapter. My Department is the lead organisation in 148 of these actions, and is reporting 66% of those as either target achieved or substantial action undertaken & ongoing, with another 28% reported as commenced & progressing.
Some of my main policy achievements since June 2020 include:
- In August 2021, I launched Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the continuing development of the agri-food sector in Ireland. I believe Food Vision is a landmark for the Irish agri-food sector with the potential to transform our agriculture, food, forestry and marine sectors in the period to 2030, with sustainability in all its dimensions (environmental, economic and social) at its core. The final reports of the Food Vision Dairy Group and Food Vision Beef and Sheep Group were published this year which proposed detailed direct and enabling measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.
- Targeted supports of nearly €2 billion per annum paid by my Department, including supports to assist and build resilience within the sector as it has been affected by Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
- In August 2022, Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) for the period 2023 to 2027 was approved by Government and this will deliver €9.8 billion over the next five years and provide vital support to farmers and rural communities to ensure the continued viability of family farms, maximising the environmental and social sustainability of the sector.
- In November 2022, the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022 was approved by Government to establish a new statutory authority, the Agri Food Regulator, to enforce Unfair Trading Practices rules and improve transparency and fairness along the food supply chain.
- The Forest Strategy and Forest Implementation Plan (Including the Forestry Programme 2023-2027) was launched for public consultation. Sanction has been secured for a package of €1.318 billion for forestry, which will support the biggest and best-funded Forestry Programme ever in Ireland, including farmers receiving an additional 5 years of payments.
- Continuing to support our seafood sector, including introducing measures to support it following the report of the Seafood Sector Taskforce, which I established to assess the implications of the EU/UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, and via capital works around our coast.
- The Department has doubled the funding provided to animal welfare organisations.
I have also continued to:
- address environmental sustainability policy issues including climate, biodiversity and water quality;
- ensure the ongoing development of the agri-food sector generally, including trade, food safety and animal health & welfare issues.