Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 February 2023
899. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine having ruled out a beef reduction scheme for farmers looking to exit the sector and discounting the resultant emissions reduction, the additional substitute measures he is proposing for the Climate Action Plan to ensure that agriculture stays within its sectoral emissions ceiling in the first carbon budget period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6817/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Climate Action Plan for 2023 contains the measures necessary to ensure compliance with the sectoral ceiling as assigned for each sector of the economy last summer. Agriculture was assigned a 25% reduction target, with carbon budgets of 106MT and 96MT assigned for budget periods 2021-2025 and 2026-2030 respectfully.
This target reflects a very challenging but achievable ambition for the sector. The science and technological solutions are evolving, and I am confident that breakthroughs in areas like feed additives will provide a viable implementable solution over the next number of years.
However, I have been clear that we need to rapidly accelerate progress in relation to core measures: reduced N applications, moving to protected urea, focusing on earlier age of cattle finishing. Furthermore, to ensure compliance with the first carbon budget in particular, I have sought to provide diversification opportunities like Anerobic Digestion, forestry, organics and tillage will provide opportunities for farmers who wish to consider alternative income sources to livestock farming.
However, I have been very clear- no farmer will be forced to reduce stock numbers against their wishes. Furthermore, I can see limited value in introducing a reduction scheme for a sector which is already experiencing natural fall in live stock which is the case in the suckler herd.
Therefore, while I am considering the full range of recommendations presented in both the Dairy and Beef Food Vision reports, a number of the measures will need very careful consideration over the months ahead.
