Jackie Cahill
Ceist:48. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on his attendance at a meeting (details supplied). [1699/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 22 February 2024
Ceisteanna (48, 51, 73)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:51. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on his attendance at a meeting (details supplied). [1697/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Michael Moynihan
Ceist:73. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on his attendance at a meeting (details supplied). [1698/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 51 and 73 together.
I was pleased to accept the invitation to address the recent AGM of the Irish Farmers Association as is custom and practice for Ministers for Agriculture. I was accompanied by my Ministerial colleagues in the Department, Ministers of State Pippa Hackett and Martin Heydon where we addressed the meeting on a wide range of relevant topics including Funding for the CAP Programme, support for the individual sectors, new schemes for farmers, the new Forestry Programme and of course improving the sustainability credentials of Irish agriculture.
Engagement with stakeholders has been a priority of mine since becoming Minister and I will continue to use every opportunity to engage. Farmers are frontline in producing the food we eat and the backbone of Ireland’s largest indigenous economic sector. Dialogue is always important between Government and farmers and our door is always open. Inevitably there will be disagreements on occasion, but on the whole we have a common set of objectives and the kind of mutual respect upon which constructive relationships can be built. We both want the best for the Irish Agri food sector in the long term and I am certain that we will achieve far more by working together in a positive way.
I also took the opportunity at the AGM to highlight how we must continue to be ambitious for the sector and positive about its future. I noted that despite the challenges of Brexit, the Pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Agriculture sector has performed reasonably strongly over the past few years. I also brought attention to the support provided by this Government in particular how we secured the highest ever funding for an Irish CAP programme with just under €10 billion being provided directly to farmers and rural communities up to 2027. All of the schemes and initiatives that will flow from this investment are an investment in the future of Irish farming. My Department’s budget for 2024 is almost €2 billion and over €3 billion when direct payments are included.
I also spoke at the AGM about our ongoing efforts to improve market access for Irish products. I will continue to lead trade missions linking Irish businesses with customers overseas and building official and political links with key influencers in those markets and to tell the story of Irish agriculture.
Of course I did not shy away from the challenges that the sector faces acknowledging that 2023 was a challenging year particularly with poor weather which caused pressures on farm incomes. Thankfully the Teagasc outlook for 2024 is more positive for all of the dairy, livestock and tillage sectors and we will continue to monitor matters closely.
There are other challenges on sustainability also and water quality is high on that list. As I commented at the meeting, all of our combined efforts now must go into retaining the Nitrates Derogation from 2026 onwards. We cannot be complacent and I was forthright in outlining the gravity of the situation we find ourselves in on this issue. To secure the renewal of the derogation, we must work collectively and take credible measures now to improve water quality.
Finally, I also used the occasion of the AGM to welcome the new President and note the election of the first ever female Deputy President of the IFA, Alice Doyle. Just last month I published an ambitious Action Plan for Women in Agriculture and improving the status and visibility of women at all levels in the agri-food sector is a key priority of mine.
Question No. 49 answered orally.