Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
613. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the key policy achievements realised and new initiatives taken by his Department during 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54780/23]
View answerMy Department is the lead for 148 of the actions in the Agriculture, Food, and the Marine chapter of the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future. As of December 2023, I can report that 72% of these as either “target achieved” or “substantial action undertaking & ongoing”, with another 24% reported as “commenced & progressing”. Some of my main policy achievements and new initiatives in 2023 include:
• Continuing the implementation of Food Vision 2030, our shared stakeholder-led strategy for agrifood, with its ambition for Ireland to be “A World Leader in Sustainable Food Systems”. In demonstrating the Irish agrifood sector meets the highest standards of sustainability – economic, environmental, and social – this will also provide the basis for the future competitive advantage of the sector. Its first Annual Report was launched in May.
• Commencing work under the new CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027, which has a significant budget of €9.8 billion, with more than 60% of that (just under €6 billion) targeted at supporting farm incomes. The CAP objectives aim to improve the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the agricultural sector, and we have seen in this period a real shift in focus towards supporting farmers for practices that benefit the climate, environment and biodiversity. In Ireland’s case, a significant element of our CAP funding is targeted towards delivering on environmental and climate objectives. At EU level we have the second highest amount of CAP funding dedicated to environmental action, almost 70% of the Pillar 2 Rural Development funding, including a new agri-environment scheme, ACRES, and a five-fold increase in funding for Organic Farming.
• The establishment of the Agrifood Regulator. I brought forward the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022 in line with the Programme for Government commitment to establish a new authority to ensure fairness, equity, and transparency in the food chain. The Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act 2023 provides for the establishment of a new independent statutory Authority to be known as ‘An Rialálaí Agraibhia’ (Agrifood Regulator). The Office will be formally established on 13 December 2023.
• I continue to work closely with all stakeholders in gaining, maintaining, restoring and enhancing access for Irish agrifood products to a wide range of priority markets. This includes participating in an ongoing programme of trade missions and promotional activities, in cooperation with Bord Bia. 2022 saw record agrifood exports valued at €19 billion, up 32% in value from €14.3 billion in 2020.
• The agriculture, food and marine sectors continue to play a leadership role in delivering on the ambitions target which culminate in a whole-of-economy 51% reduction in emissions by 2030. Policies and strategies devised by my Department are bearing fruit with emissions from agriculture trending downwards, which marked an important reversal of what had been a steady upwards trend since the lowest emissions were reported in 2011. I have introduced measures to achieve abatement potential in the agriculture sector, backed by financial commitment including a budget of €1.5 billion for the new agri-environment scheme ACRES, a five-fold increase in funding for Organic Farming to €256 million to triple the area to 7.5% of utilised agricultural area, €260 million to improve the carbon efficiency of the suckler herd through genetic improvement, and €43 million for a major genotyping programme for Irish cattle which was announced in May 2023, which will enhance the environmental sustainability, health and productivity of Irish beef and dairy herds.
• In 2023 my Department continued implementation of schemes developed on foot of the recommendations of the Seafood Sector Task force. I have provided funding of €305.5m to support these schemes such as the Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme, the Brexit Sustainable Aquaculture Growth Scheme, and the Brexit Inshore Fisheries Business Model Adjustment Scheme. In addition my Department secured positive State Aid decisions from the Commission in relation to four new schemes: the Brexit Fish Processor Transition Scheme; the Brexit Specific Scallop Fleet Transition Scheme; Brexit Fisheries Cooperative Transition Scheme 2023; and the Brexit Pelagic Fisheries Support Scheme. Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) are now implementing these new schemes that will deliver significant benefits to the sector. The Brexit Pelagic Fisheries Support Scheme provides a €25.6 million support package funded under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund for vessels that have suffered losses of mackerel quota as a result of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). The Brexit Fish Processor Transition Scheme is a liquidity scheme for processors (of any size) which will make aid of €7 million available to this sector to offset losses incurred in 2021 arising from reductions in quota on foot of the TCA. The Brexit Fisheries Cooperative Transition Scheme is a continuation of the previous scheme to support the Cooperatives in 2022, and will make a further €1 million in aid available. The Brexit Specific Scallop Fleet Transition Scheme will provide support to this small fleet segment to enable these vessels to adapt to the issues created by Brexit in the scallop fishery.
• The overall funding of €1.3 billion committed to the new National Forestry Programme for the period 2023-2027 represents the largest-ever investment by an Irish Government in tree-planting. It has been designed to incentivise farmers to the greatest extent possible to engage with tree-planting as an alternative income stream.
• The publication of Ireland’s first National Bioeconomy Action Plan for the period 2023-2025. The Plan will have a strong focus on bringing sustainable scientific practices, technologies, and biobased innovation into use on farms and by biobased industries in Ireland. The bioeconomy offers a vast range of new opportunities, new business models, new value chains, and is a key element in the diversification of the sector in line with the ambitions set out in Food Vision 2030.
• The area of research and development is a key focus for my Department, with a budget now standing at €22.45 million. This will be used to drive greater innovation in our agriculture and food sectors as we position Irish agriculture as a leader in sustainable food production.
• Engagement with the Food Vision Tillage Group, whose final report will be presented shortly. It will be an important step in the process to sustainably grow the tillage sector to 400,000 ha by 2030, while also identifying other opportunities for the sector.
• The publication of the new National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027. The Strategy highlights the potential of the horticulture sector to play a key role in the achievement of our vision for the Irish agrifood sector, both economically and environmentally.
I will continue to lead the development of agrifood in collaboration with the sector and continue to deliver on our Programme for Government commitments.
