Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
453. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he has had discussions with the farming sector, with a view to identifying issues that have caused concern in the course of the past twelve months; whether it is expected that any particular provisions are likely to be made to address the issues in all the sectors where issues have arisen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56230/23]
View answerI speak with stakeholders in the farming sector on an ongoing basis across a range of issues. These discussions include formal engagements on ongoing issues relating to agriculture policy, such as the CAP Strategic Plan and the implementation of Food Vision 2030, engagements on preparations for the budget, and engagements on specific issues that arise from time to time. I also have many informal engagements both with the farm organisations and with farmers themselves.
There is also ongoing dialogue between my Department and farmers and the representative bodies through various consultative and implementation bodies. We saw last year important work on environmental sustainability in the dairy and beef sectors, which were progressed through specific stakeholder groups. Both the Food Vision Dairy Group and the Beef & Sheepmeat Group submitted reports and some of the recommendations from these are now included in the Climate Action Plan 2023, with others integrated generally into policy. These Groups, and the new Tillage Sector Group, will continue to meet to progress these and other important actions for the dairy, beef, sheep and tillage sectors set out in Food Vision 2030.
I believe that it is only by working together as a sector, with all the stakeholders having a voice and playing a role, that we can progress and meet our challenges and make the most of our opportunities. This is why I will continue to engage with the farming stakeholders, and indeed all of the agri-food sector stakeholders, to achieve our ambitions in the year ahead, especially the ambition outlined in Food Vision 2030 for Ireland to be a “World Leader in Sustainable Food Systems”, encompassing environmental, economic and social sustainability. Ireland is seeking to become a global leader of innovation for sustainable food and agriculture systems, producing safe, nutritious, and high-value food, while protecting and enhancing its natural and cultural resources and contributing to vibrant rural and coastal communities and the national economy.
