Mr. Bill Callanan:

I thank the committee for the opportunity to contribute to its discussions on the recommendations on land use and water quality from the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss. Agriculture and forestry are Ireland's dominant land use, responsible for shaping approximately two thirds of its total land area. As an island nation, Ireland also has a relatively large marine area. The way in which we manage our land and seas has a significant impact on how we support biodiversity and address its significant loss in recent decades. Our Department, alongside our farmers, fishers and foresters, is committed to addressing these losses, and we welcome the work of the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss as an additional resource to support expansion of our tool box of actions.

Of 33 actions specifically identified in the recommendations as the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, 11 are considered implemented and a further 17 are considered as in progress. Those not being implemented are considered to fall under the remit of other Departments or agencies or are being delivered in a different approach. The Department is delivering the recommendations through a range of programmes. Recommendation 79, for example, calls for increased access to agri-environmental schemes and payment on results schemes to be available to all farmers, with commensurate funding. Within the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, strategic plan, the Department is supporting farmers in this ambition through the introduction of eco schemes, of which more than 90% of farmers are voluntarily availing, and through continuation of support for the European Innovation Partnerships, ElPs. These are driving innovation at local level, including the flagship €30 million breeding waders EIP, which will be co-supported with our colleagues in the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the national agri-environmental scheme, ACRES, with a results-based approach to delivery. Such was the interest in the first tranche of the ACRES programme, with more than 46,000 applicants accepted, that the stream checker for the second tranche is now open, allowing 50,000 farmers to participate in this flagship environmental programme under Ireland's 2023 to 2027 CAP plan, with an unprecedented €1.5 billion funding. Our Department is committed to increasing organic farmed land area from 110,000 ha to 330,000 ha by 2027. This tripling of the organic area will be achieved through the organic farming scheme, enhanced advisory support and increased promotion, as well as developing market demand. A total budget of €256 million has been allocated to the scheme over the lifetime of the CAP strategic plan.

Outside of CAP, our Department is working closely with colleagues in other Departments, including the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to deliver the objectives of national strategies and plans beneficial for biodiversity. Such initiatives include the national biodiversity action plan, the fourth iteration of which is due for publication shortly, and a number of EU LIFE-funded projects including the Wild Atlantic Nature and Waters of Life integrated projects, both of which have elements of results based agri-environmental approaches within their project design.

Water quality and biodiversity are also a significant focus for our Department. The Department has provided financial support to the agricultural sustainability support and advisory programme, ASSAP, since 2019. ASSAP advisers work across Ireland collaborating with catchment scientists from local authorities water programmes to provide farmers with confidential advice focused on preventing nutrient losses to water. In recognition of this priority, the Department, in collaboration with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, has committed €60 million in funding to support a new water EIP project. This new EIP will follow the typical EIP approach of ground-up development, locally led with significant stakeholder collaboration to promote the adoption of innovative best practice in nutrient management and address a critical gap in measures to protect and restore water quality. This EIP will build on the positive work of ASSAP and is expected to target 15,000 farmers in priority areas nationally.

I turn to recommendations for the marine environment. Ireland's goals for sustainable fisheries are supported through the EU's Common Fisheries Policy.

This policy provides a framework for the long-term conservation and sustainability of fishing economically, socially and environmentally in waters around Ireland and throughout EU waters. Following this framework and the principles of sustainability, it is possible for marine protected areas and fisheries to coexist, ensuring protection for biodiversity and allowing sea fisheries to continue to support coastal communities and food security.

The vision for the forestry sector to 2030 has been refined in recent years. In 2022, Shared National Vision for Trees, Woods and Forests in Ireland until 2050 was published. This vision informed the forestry strategy, which extends to 2030. The recently improved Forestry Programme 2023-2027 aims to ensure "the right trees in the right places for the right reasons with the right management supporting a sustainable and thriving economy, society and healthy environment". This is a €1.3 billion programme that has a greater focus on delivering environmental, social and recreational benefits for people from new and existing forests.

These policies and legislative instruments are further supported by ongoing training and knowledge transfer for those responsible for action delivery on the ground. The Department is committed to continuous educational development for farmers, fishers, foresters and their advisers through formal approaches, such as the green cert, and informal approaches, such as peer-to-peer learning within EIPs.

In conclusion, these are some examples of what the Department is actioning in line with citizens’ assembly recommendations. The Department acknowledges that the cumulative negative impact on biodiversity and climate within our sector has contributed to a lack of action, or to misinformed action, alongside other sectors over past decades. However, we are working to the future, making more informed decisions as the evidence base expands, with continuous monitoring and review and through greater collaboration across government. From this, we are striving, with all our stakeholders, to improve the sustainability and performance of the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors in line with all three pillars of sustainability.

I thank the committee for the invitation to discuss the recommendations and I am happy to answer any questions members may have.