Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
919. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered the introduction of taxation on grain imported to Ireland from outside of the EU, with regard to ensuring fair prices for domestic grain production; if he has engaged with the Minister for Finance on such a measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47969/23]
View answerThe Irish tillage sector is an important and integral component of the Agri-Food industry which I have strongly supported in recent years.
The importance of the tillage sector is recognised in the Food Vision 2030 strategy and in the Climate Action Plan 2023 where a target is set out to increase the area in tillage to 400,000 hectares. This is an ambitious target, but I firmly believe that it is well-founded given that the sector is one of the most carbon efficient sectors of Irish agriculture.
To help achieve this target, I recently established the Food Vision 2030 Tillage Group. This group, which brings together all relevant stakeholders, has been established to advance the actions for the tillage sector identified in the Food Vision 2030 strategy, while also taking account of the targets set out in the Farm to Fork Strategy and the Climate Action Plan 2023.
The Tillage Group is made up of a wide range of stakeholders from across the industry and is tasked with setting out a roadmap for the sustainable growth and development of the sector.
Taxation of grain imports into the European Union, including into Ireland, is not a national competence with taxation into the single market subject to multi-lateral agreements at EU level.
