Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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728. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the recurring weekly meetings attended by either him or the Secretary General of his Department in 2019 at which climate change and-or preparations within his Department to enact a climate plan has been an agenda item; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31333/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department has played an active role in the whole-of-Government dialogue which led to the recent publication of the Climate Action Plan to Tackle Climate Breakdown.  This document represents a collaborative approach that sets out the vision and pathway to achieve reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and meet our 2030 EU targets. The contribution from the agriculture sector to this national ambition is significant. 

My Department was also required to prepare three plans under the National Adaptation Framework for the agriculture, forest and seafood sectors and this Adaption Programme was launched in late June.  

Officials from my Department have been working intensively with colleagues across a number of other Government Departments and agencies over the last number of years in the preparation of these plans and both the Secretary General of the Department and I have been kept fully informed of progress during this time.  This would have involved detailed briefings and presentations as well as regular discussion on the Climate Change issue at the weekly Management Board meeting chaired by the Secretary General.