Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 July 2021
14. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current supports and information channels available for farmers impacted by EU Directive 2019/904 prohibiting products in Ireland used to cover maize grown and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38310/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI had a short conversation with the Minister about this issue. I have been inundated with messages from farmers and contractors. I suppose it is an unintended consequence of the European directive on single-use plastic, which will affect those involved in growing maize. Is there is anything the State intends to do to mitigate these difficulties?
I thank the Deputy for his question. As required under the provisions in EU Council Directive 2019/904, the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications recently signed into force national regulations prohibiting the use of single-use plastics. This includes films of the type used to cover sown maize. I understand that the industry is developing alternative products for use in the sowing of maize that will comply with the new requirements set down by this EU directive.
In parallel, in terms of support for the sector, the Department recommenced value for cultivation and use, VCU, trials for uncovered maize in 2020 as a means to identify varieties better suited to Irish growing conditions that do not require plastic covering. This work will build on the 2015 uncovered recommended list in which a high-performing variety was identified and is currently available on the Irish market for growers.
Alternative means need to be looked at but, like anything, we do not have the transition period we would like. I have spoken to a number of contractors and farmers who have invested in serious plants that can only be used with these types of plastic. We are talking about people who have made an outlay of approximately €80,000. There is a need to engage with the stakeholders. If there are alternatives that are fit for purpose, this discussion needs to be had very quickly. That is the significant issue. There needs to be engagement with stakeholders. They will state that they are not quite sure these alternatives are fit for purpose and ready to go. Again, the difficulty for some of them arises from the fact that they have put a serious amount of money into this plant and did not see this coming. It is an unintended consequence which relates to the fact that there is no distinction between oxo-degradable plastic and other oxo-degradable material. Can anything be done at European or national level? Could a derogation or mitigation be secured, even in the short term?
I understand the challenges this pose. As already stated, the Department is conducting the VCU supporting trials for uncovered maize. We will look at any means by which we can support the industry to adjust to this. The background to what is happening is the EU directive on single-use plastics that was adopted in June 2020. This directive aims to prevent and reduce the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, particularly on the aquatic environment and human health, and promote the transition to a circular economy with innovative and sustainable business models. The directive is required to be transposed into national law and applied as of 3 July last.
We can all agree that the directive is important because 80% of marine litter is composed of plastic items and plastic does accumulate in our oceans and on our beaches and has a significant impact of which we have all become increasingly aware and to which we must respond. Obviously, this can present challenges but we must be cognisant of the impact of what we do as well. I take on board the points made by the Deputy and will continue to engage with the sector in any way I can to support it to adjust to this.
I agree with the Minister. Everybody accepts the difficulties that we face regarding plastic, waste and climate change. As a result, we all accept the necessary moves that must be made. It concerns the timeline. I welcome the fact that the Minister has spoken about supports and that the Department is looking at alternatives. I call on him to engage with those people who have contacted me. I would be only too willing to pass on their information. It is about reaching some sort of interim solution for them in order that maize production is not affected and we get to a better place with better alternatives. We would all be happier with that, including those people who have made contact with me. Again, the difficulty is that some of them have put a serious amount of money into new plant and were unaware that this was going to affect their business.
Approximately 14,500 ha of maize are grown in the country. As we have discussed, there are two types of system - the uncovered approach and the covered approach. The covered approach is a more expensive one. With the inputs, it is about €300 per hectare but the yields tend to be far more stable, higher and more weather-resistant. The evidence is that in the region of 90% of maize crops in the country are covered, while 10% are uncovered. It is, therefore, something that is posing a challenge and we must make every effort to find sustainable alternatives that do not have the negative impact of plastic. We all agree that this can be quite damaging. I am happy to engage with the sector in any way I can and to work with the particular constituency that has been in contact with the Deputy regarding these issues in order to try to address the challenge.
