Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

At the Mallow festival, I was presented with Wexford wine and it was very impressive. I am delighted to see that market go from strength to strength.

The programme for Government includes support for the development of knock-on industries from the tillage sector. That value-added factor is important, in addition to the basic fundamental of the sector that Deputy Aird articulated so well.

It is estimated that the tillage sector contributed €1.9 billion per annum to the Irish economy in the period from 2018 to 2022. The sector is estimated to support more than 11,000 full-time equivalent jobs. The overall area of tillage crops in 2024 was more than 332,000 ha, which is a reduction of less than 2% from 2023. Overall, since 2020, the tillage area has increased by more than 19,000 ha, or approximately 6%. We need to continue to support it. I am determined to work on a cross-Government basis to do that.

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