Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy. Ireland is among the most food secure countries in the world and, according to the latest Global Food Security Index, ranks second of 113 countries assessed for food security. The resilience of the food supply chain was clearly demonstrated over the past number of years when dealing with the effects of Brexit and Covid-19. Currently Ireland produces significantly more food than we consume. The Irish agrifood sector is globally orientated, with approximately 90% of Irish beef, sheepmeat and dairy produce exported each year.

As the Deputy is aware, Ireland is part of the EU Single Market and participates in the Common Agriculture Policy, which is the key mechanism for ensuring food security throughout Europe. The EU is largely self-sufficient for many agricultural products but is a considerable net importer for specific products. The current geopolitical situation is challenging established assumptions on food security. The EU communication, Safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food systems, sets out actions in the three areas of security, stability and sustainability. The EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council of Ministers will continue to focus on these core areas and to support the work of the European food security crisis preparedness and response mechanism.

The agrifood sector drives economic growth in every rural parish in every county in Ireland, as the Deputy alluded to. It reaches out from every corner of the country to global markets. It includes primary production in farming, fishing and forestry and the processing and manufacture of food, beverages and wood products. Agrifood is Ireland’s largest indigenous exporting sector and accounts for 6% of modified gross national income and 8.6% of merchandising exports in value terms. The sector employs 169,300 people, representing 6.1% of total employment, which translates to one in every 16 jobs, and of course a far greater proportion in rural constituencies like mine and the Deputy's. While the last few years have been challenging for the sector, as significant energy price rises and supply chain disruption fuelled inflation and contributed to increased input prices and decreases in output prices, our farmers, fishers, processors and food businesses have demonstrated the resilience of the agrifood sector.

Ireland's approach to delivering sustainable agriculture and food is set out in Food Vision 2030, our shared stakeholder-led strategy for the continuing development of the agrifood sector in Ireland. Its vision is for Ireland to be "a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems", encompassing environmental, economic and social sustainability. It was designed using a food systems approach, recognising the requirement to have greater policy coherence across agriculture, food, and the environment and the involvement of all of the food system stakeholders. The centrality of primary producers in Food Vision 2030 recognises economically sustainable farmers, fishers and forest owners are an integral part of our rural and coastal community and of our natural environment and landscape. It recognises that healthy environments, ecosystems, communities and economies go together.

Irish agrifood exports reached a record €19.1 billion in 2024, which is an increase of over 5% by value on the €18.1 billion achieved in 2023 and an increase of a third by value, that is, €4.8 billion, on the €14.3 million achieved in 2020. This represents 40% of all exports from Irish-owned firms. With highly competitive global markets, the agrifood sector works hard to protect its reputation and continuously strives to innovate and maintain a level of competitiveness and resilience that has enabled it to prosper and develop in a globalised trading environment.

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