Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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847. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans and proposals to expand the Irish hemp sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41912/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government (PFG) has committed to exploring the potential for the growing of fibre crops such as hemp.  

My Department has been active on this issue and undertook a consultation on the hemp industry in 2019. This consultation included those involved in hemp regulation, research and the then hemp representative bodies.

My Department has and continues to engage with relevant stakeholders from different hemp representative bodies and it will engage further with relevant stakeholders in early 2021 to fully explore the viability of growing fibre crops such as hemp and to determine the viability based on production costs, market requirements, etc.