Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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27. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Food Harvest 2020, which aims to significantly increase dairy cow numbers, will result in the European Union imposing emissions fines; the measures he is taking to mitigate against this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2301/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Irish agricultural production is independently and internationally recognised by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, as one of the most climate and resource efficient systems in the world. The dairy production system has the joint lowest carbon footprint in the EU. Environmentally sustainable development of the agri-food sector remains a priority for my Department and an independent Environmental Analysis (including a Strategic Environmental Assessment and an Appropriate Assessment) was prepared in parallel with the development of the current ten year Food Wise 2025 strategy.

The focus of Food Wise 2025 is to build on Food Harvest 2020, with continued growth in the value of Irish agri-food including dairy production. While this is likely to mean some increase in dairy numbers, it is not expected that there will be a significant increase in overall cattle numbers.

The Environmental Analysis has identified any potential significant environmental impacts associated with implementation of Food Wise, and a large number of recommendations in this regard are contained in Food Wise itself as well as in the Environmental Analysis. Amongst these recommendations are:

- the establishment of a sustainability sub-committee to monitor any environmental impacts during the implementation phase. This committee, with membership from key Government Departments, the EPA, Teagasc, the Marine Institute and academia, will (inter alia) carefully monitor total livestock numbers and any implications for greenhouse gas emissions

- the commissioning of further work on the development of cost effective greenhouse gas mitigation measures.

The extent of the challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in line with our EU commitments, is clearly understood by Government, as reflected in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015.

I am satisfied that Ireland is on course to comply with the annual targets under the 2009 EU Effort Sharing Decision in the first half of the 2013-2020 compliance period. However, there will be a significant compliance challenge in the years 2017-2020, which will be addressed in the National Mitigation Plan, currently being prepared by all relevant sectors including my Department.

Ireland is engaged in intensive discussions, in a whole of Government approach, with the European Commission to highlight the importance of ensuring a coherent approach to the twin challenges of food security and increasing global demand for food with EU climate ambition. An important step forward in this regard was taken at the October 2014 European Council. The recent Paris agreement further recognises the fundamental priority of safeguarding food security.