Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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127. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied that the future of the dairy sector remains secure and capable of creating and generating employment in the future to the extent needed notwithstanding CAP reform or other issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7052/22]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The question relates to the extent to which the Minister recognises the future of the dairy sector and its major role in the economy.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The dairy sector is a tremendously exciting one and a real driver of our agrifood industry and sector, and we have seen that develop further since the removal of quotas in 2015. We have seen significant growth in milk output and what that means in terms of employment in all parts of the country through processing, through added value and through the increase in our national exports, which have grown from approximately €8 billion in 2010 to €14 billion today. In the years up to 2030, the plan under Food Vision is to increase that €14 billion to €21 billion, and the dairy industry will be central to that. We need to continue to add value and to develop it.

A critical point is that we have to do it in a way that is sustainable and that manages and lowers emissions. Last week, I brought together and established the dairy committee under the Food Vision 2030 strategy. One of the first tasks I have provided it is to follow through on one of the commitments all stakeholders committed to in the strategy, which was to consider how we can efficiently manage the footprint of the dairy sector and ensure it stabilises, and then see that footprint reduce. In doing so, it will be about adding value while also ensuring that, in the years ahead, we can make sure new entrants can go into dairying and that those who need to become larger have the capacity to do so and be economically viable. However, we have to manage this in a way that ensures emissions do not go up. If emissions go up, it will challenge the sector overall and diminish the value of what we are producing. That is not the cycle we want. We want to be in a cycle where value is being enhanced and, ultimately, where farm profitability is improving all of the time.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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That is a very welcome assessment of the future. To follow up, I ask the extent to which it will remain the Minister's endeavour to ensure emissions continue to be reduced in tandem with, but not damaging, the growth of the agrifood sector, with particular reference to the dairy sector, given that other countries seem to be able to do so to a huge extent.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Every country has the same challenge that we do. In regard to our emissions targets and the climate action plan, I worked very hard on behalf of the sector to ensure that it and its valuable socio-economic role, but also the science around agriculture, are very much respected in terms of setting a target which, while being as ambitious as possible, is also achievable. Overall, between now and 2030, while the economy is going to have to deliver, and our commitment as a Government is to drive on and deliver, a 51% economy-wide reduction in emissions by 2030, the agricultural target will be between 22% and 30%. That is significantly less than what other sectors will have to do but it is very ambitious and will be a real challenge for the sector. I believe the sector can deliver it and I am determined to work with the sector to support it in delivering that.

By doing that and by delivering on our emissions reduction, we will add value to the food we are producing because we can continue to ensure we are the number one choice on plates throughout the world. Consumers want to know not just that their food is nutritious and safe, but also how it is produced and that it is done as sustainably as possible, in sync with the environment around it and with the lowest emissions possible. That is how we ensure that its value is maximised and that farm profits are also maximised in the years ahead.