Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Irish agricultural production is independently and internationally recognised as one of the most climate and resource-efficient systems in the world. Irish dairy production, with Austria, has the lowest carbon-intensity in the EU as per the European Commission Joint Research Centre findings.

The extent of the challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with our EU commitments is understood by Government, as reflected in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015. I am satisfied that Ireland is on course to comply with the annual mitigation targets under the 2009 EU Effort Sharing Decision in the first half of the 2013 to 2020 compliance period. However, there will be a significant compliance challenge in the years 2017 to 2020, which will have to be addressed in the national mitigation plan, currently being prepared.

The approach in the current Effort Sharing Decision, in terms of greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2020, treats emissions from agriculture in essentially the same way as emissions from sectors such as transport and does not take into account the limited cost-effective mitigation options available in the sector.

While the 2020 targets remain binding, Ireland has engaged in intensive discussions with the European Commission to highlight the importance of ensuring a coherent approach to the twin challenges of food security and the greatly increased global demand for food with EU climate-change ambition. An important step forward in developing a coherent policy on food security and climate change was taken at the October 2014 European Council.

Officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine and other Departments are continuing to work together to ensure a whole of Government approach to building upon this and working with the Commission to ensure that EU climate and food policies to 2030 and beyond recognise the reality of these global challenges.

See this speech in context