Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 2 March 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action

Climate Action Plan 2023: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The voices of all representatives in the sector are very important. It is important that we all work together. I do not see a particular issue in respect of the Teagasc board. As an organisation, it is performing very strongly and very much leading out on our targets, be that in organics or any other sector. I take on board the Senator’s view on the matter.

On Coillte, the climate Act and climate targets, Coillte has been very proactive in the strategic plan it launched recently. The plan outlines how it plans to plant 100,000 ha of new forestry by 2050.

That is ambitious and Coillte plans to do that in a way that is 50% farmed for commercial purposes and 50% farmed for nature. All of its forest assets will have open access for the public as well, which is different from how most other forests are managed. The strategy Coillte has put forward is forward-thinking and has been backing our national targets in emissions reductions and in providing space for nature and biodiversity recovery. We will continue to engage closely with Coillte on that.

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