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Agriculture Industry

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2021

Thursday, 20 May 2021

Ceisteanna (382)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

382. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department continues to development the agri-food sector while at the same time ensuring compliance with carbon reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27381/21]

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Freagraí scríofa

On 14th April, I published the Department's Statement of Strategy 2021-2024 alongside an Action Plan for 2021, which outlines 75 actions to further develop a sustainable, innovative and competitive agri-food, forestry and seafood sector. The Action Plan will build on significant work already underway by my Department on a range of key issues.

On climate, The Government has recently approved the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021. The Bill will support Ireland’s transition to Net Zero emissions and achievement of a climate neutral economy by 2050. The agricultural sector is already contributing to the national effort to address the climate challenge and will continue to do so. I launched a National ‘Climate & Air Roadmap’ for the Agriculture Sector entitled “Ag Climatise” in December 2020. The roadmap, which is a living document, sets an ambitious vision for a ‘climate neutral agriculture sector by 2050’ and includes 29 actions with specific and challenging targets aimed at reducing the environmental footprint and further building on the strong credentials of Irish agriculture.

The draft agri-food Strategy for 2030 was recently launched for public consultation on the Strategy itself and its environmental assessment. The public consultation is available at the following link: gov.ie - Public Consultation on the Environmental Assessment of the Draft Agri-Food Strategy to 2030. (www.gov.ie), and will remain open until the15th of June. The Committee will take the outcome of the public consultation process into account before finalising the Strategy this summer. The high level vision of the Committee is that, “Ireland will become a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems over the next decade”, taking a food systems approach in ensuring the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the sector a whole.

I am committed to working to improve incomes for our farm families

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