Dáil debates

Thursday, 8 December 2022

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions

Departmental Reviews

11:10 am

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

132. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he intends to act on the recommendation of the wool feasibility study to establish an all-island wool council. [61128/22]

Photo of Martin BrowneMartin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The establishment of an all-island wool council was a recommendation of the wool feasibility study. We are supportive of that. I understand the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, has reached out to stakeholders. Will she outline if she intends to follow through with this on an all-island basis? Will she also outline the timeframe she is setting for that?

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Senator Pippa Hackett):

I thank the Deputy for his continued interest in this matter. As he will be aware, the wool feasibility study report was published in July of this year. The review, which was compiled independently by The Agile Executive, contains a number of findings and recommendations, including potential funding streams, market opportunities for wool and multiple areas for additional research and development. One of the main recommendations of the review was the establishment of an independent wool council by the industry, and this received widespread support.

It is intended that this council will lead the development and promotion of Irish wool domestically and internationally. It will also act as a forum to bring together multiple stakeholders in order to foster collaboration, innovation and scaling activities in the wool sector. It is envisaged that the council will be a forum where stakeholders can further examine and explore the potential uses for wool identified in the wool feasibility study. Once established, my Department has committed to providing €30,000 in financial assistance towards the initial set-up costs.

I have informed the relevant stakeholders that I am eager to see the formation of this stakeholder-led wool council as soon as possible. It is my understanding that a meeting of the relevant stakeholders is scheduled to take place next week. I welcome that.

It is my hope that the wool council, once formed, will use the findings of the wool feasibility study report as a roadmap to develop pathways towards maximising the true potential of Irish wool into the future and to help drive increased returns for this great and sustainable product.

Photo of Martin BrowneMartin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I suggest that the timeframes to date have been anything but satisfactory. A review of wool-based products was promised when the programme for Government was being put together, but it took until July 2021 for a tender to be put out in the first place. It was not until December 2021 that it was confirmed that a tender had been awarded and the report was published seven months later. Why has it taken nearly half the Government's term to commission and receive the report?

Has the Minister of State begun any work on the short-term recommendations contained in the report? How does she propose to address the medium and long-term recommendations? Has she set targets for the short, medium and long-term ambitions she feels can be realised?

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Senator Pippa Hackett):

I assure the Deputy that we have delivered on the programme for Government commitment. He will recall that we were in the midst of a Covid crisis for some time in the early part of the Government's term. We have come out of that well. I thank The Agile Executive, which went to great lengths to engage with stakeholders and put together this significant report, which contains a wealth of information on the wool sector and the potential direction to take. That is why we need the wool council to be formed as soon as possible. I am pleased to hear that the stakeholders are due to meet next week. Ultimately, it will be for them to decide the direction they take and to set short, medium and long-term objectives for the group.

Photo of Martin BrowneMartin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I asked about the establishment of the all-island wool council. I note that in the Seanad the Minister of State spoke about stakeholder engagement, but there seems to be a lack of clarity on the all-island aspect of that. The Sinn Féin spokesperson for agriculture in the North raised the matter and was told that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, DEFRA, is considering the review and plans to engage with the Department here. What level of engagement has the Minister of State had with DEFRA and what stage are the discussions at? I ask this because if the recommendations contained within the report are to achieve the objectives, then we must ensure that all of the stakeholders are involved. I appreciate that the Minister of State says a meeting is due to take place next week with those involved in the all-island process who are ready and willing to get it under way but I seek clarity on what has been done and the proposed timeframe in which she proposes to achieve the spirit of the study itself.

Photo of Michael McNamaraMichael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her reply, which frankly contained a lot of jargon. What I would like to know is what concrete actions are happening, in particular in terms of interdepartmental efforts to investigate and move forward. One option is to develop wool as an insulation product. Insulating homes is a major priority of the Government, as it should be, although it might not be moving as quickly as I would like. No doubt the Minister of State will use Covid as the excuse, as it is used for every delay by the Government.

It does seem that wool has some possibilities to be used for insulation. Currently, wool is practically being thrown out or farmers are getting very little for it. The cost of insulation is rising exponentially. It is one of the issues that is making it most difficult for the Government to meet its targets. What is being done in particular in that regard? Is there any engagement with industry? With the greatest of respect, €30,000 is not going to cut it if we are trying to develop a new product with such a significant capability to impact the industry.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Senator Pippa Hackett):

To clarify, the €30,000 is to help the establishment of the wool council. Once the council has been established, it is up to it, as the industry stakeholders, to come together with the ideas. Who knows what lies ahead? I urge the stakeholders to do that very swiftly.

I would welcome any all-island approach and support the council may well achieve and engagement with farmers and stakeholders in Northern Ireland also.

I acknowledge the potential benefits and uses of wool, of which there are many. Insulation is one aspect. We are engaging with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on decarbonising housing, full stop. Timber has a significant role to play in that regard. If wool is an element too, that would be very exciting. However, we must achieve certain changes to aspects of building regulations in terms of fire safety and so forth. We are engaging on all sorts of aspects of housing.

Photo of Martin BrowneMartin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Is the Minister of State engaging with DEFRA in the North? What stage are the discussions at?

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Senator Pippa Hackett):

Personally no, but I will find out for the Deputy and let him know if my officials have engaged.

Photo of Martin BrowneMartin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will the Minister of State please do that and let me know what stage the discussions have reached?

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Senator Pippa Hackett):

We will know more following the meeting about the wool council next week. We need to get there and to move on from that point.