Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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674. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered introducing a carbon tax on beef and dairy products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37666/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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There is a whole of Government approach to climate policy as set out in the National Climate Policy Position.  Officials from my Department work very closely with other Departments and in particular, with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, which is the lead in this area and the matter of a carbon tax on beef and dairy products has not been considered.

Irish Grass-based agricultural production is independently and internationally recognised as one of the most climate and resource efficient in the world. However, there are limited cost-effective abatement options available in respect of biological emissions and imposing carbon taxes on Irish beef and dairy products could have the effect of shifting production to other countries with less sustainable production systems.

My approach is to focus on driving down the emissions intensity of Irish production through the deployment of innovative and efficient practices at farm level combined with the practical application of emerging scientific knowledge.