Written answers

Wednesday, 21 April 2021

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Departmental Meetings

Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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2505. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the meeting by his departmental officials with a group (details supplied) on 11 March 2021 in relation to its withdrawal from the 2030 agrifood strategy committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19467/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Environmental Pillar nominee to the Agri-Food 2030 Stakeholder Committee announced their withdrawal from the process at a Committee meeting on 25th February. Following that announcement, I, along with my colleagues Minister-of- State Hackett and Minister-of-State Heydon, expressed regret at the decision and hoped the Pillar would reconsider and engage in the strategy formation process, which is still ongoing.

At the request of the Environmental Pillar, my Ministerial colleagues and I, along with the Chair of the 2030 Committee and Department officials, met with a range of representatives on 11th March. We listened to their views and again invited the Environmental Pillar to re-engage with the process.

Photo of Colm BurkeColm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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2506. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if further engagement will take place with the Environmental Pillar following a meeting held by his departmental officials on 11 March 2021 with a range of representatives from the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19468/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Environmental Pillar nominee to the Agri-Food 2030 Stakeholder Committee announced their withdrawal from the process at a Committee meeting on 25 February. Following that announcement, I, along with my colleagues Minister of State Hackett and Minister of State Heydon, expressed regret at the decision and hoped the Pillar would reconsider and engage in the strategy formation process, which is still ongoing.

At the request of the Environmental Pillar, my Ministerial colleagues and I, along with the Chair of the 2030 Committee and Department officials, met with a range of representatives on 11 March. We listened to their views and again invited the Environmental Pillar to re-engage with the process.

Since then, a public consultation process on the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the draft Agri-Food Strategy to 2030 has been launched for public consultation and I am sure the Environmental Pillar will contribute to this process. In addition, the Environmental Pillar has been invited to participate in the forthcoming Food Systems Summit National Dialogues, which will provide an important forum for discussion on the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of Ireland's food system, as well as the contribution we can make to strengthening global food systems.

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