Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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376. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which imports from third countries are likely to impact on the agrifood sector here given international carbon reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51921/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Irish and EU food producers are making significant efforts to meet international carbon reduction targets. 

I am very aware that we must do what we can to ensure that these efforts do not result in EU products becoming less competitive on EU and other markets, and as a result lead to them being replaced by imported products which are produced less sustainably. 

If this were to happen it  would merely see the EU exporting its carbon footprint to third countries, negating the efforts of EU producers to help meet the global emissions reduction challenge. 

This is a matter that is the subject of ongoing consideration and discussion at EU level, particularly following the joint statements from the Council, European Parliament and Commission that were appended to the political agreement on the CAP reform in July 2021. 

I believe that proactive engagement at multilateral level on the application of EU environmental standards to imported agricultural products is required, and that the report requested by the Council and European Parliament from the Commission by June 2022 will be a very important step in this regard.

It is useful to note in this context the inclusion of a detailed chapter on Sustainability in the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement, which recognises the need to address the urgent threat of climate change and the role trade has in that regard, as well as underscoring the importance of both Parties implementing the provisions of the Paris Agreement. 

Ireland is insisting that additional, robust, and legally enforceable commitments on environmental compliance should be added to the agreement, and proposing that these commitments include a sanction regime for non-compliance with UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

I and the Government will continue to insist that EU policy on agriculture, sustainability, climate action and trade is coherent.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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377. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps being taken to ensure that compliance with worldwide carbon reduction targets here do not become utilised as a means of replacing levels of production here with imports from third countries which do not appear to comply with any level of carbon reduction requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51922/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Agriculture sector has a critically important social, economic, and environmental role in Ireland and like other sectors it will play its part in meeting the climate challenge.

We must ensure that agriculture contributes to climate change mitigation together with protecting our environment, while continuing to support vibrant rural and coastal communities.

Ireland’s agri-food system is a unique one that supports so many areas of our economy. It is dominated by livestock with 80% of our agricultural area in grassland producing beef and dairy products that are exported to 180 countries all over the world.

The sector accounts for 8% of all employment and 10% of all exports that leave Ireland are Ag-food-based. I recently launched our Food Vision 2030 strategy that targets increasing food exports  to €21billion by 2030.

Ireland’s agri-food system has a global reputation for quality and safety, primarily based on a sustainable grazed grass approach. Global demand for high quality food is increasing in line with increases in global population, urbanisation and affluence, and the Irish agri-food sector is well placed to play a role in meeting this demand.

Agriculture must do its share of the climate ask and absolute emissions from the sector must fall over the years ahead. However, this does not mean that Ireland needs to change from our role as a producer and exporter of safe, high quality and sustainably produced food.

Food Vision 2030 sets out a pathway to Ireland becoming a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems over the next decade and this will be the basis for the future competitive advantage of the sector. By adopting an integrated food systems approach, Ireland will become a global leader of innovation for sustainable food and agriculture systems, producing safe, nutritious, and high-value food while protecting and enhancing our natural resources and contributing to vibrant rural and coastal communities within the national economy.

The long-standing policy of supplying an increasingly diversified range of export markets and developing new high-value markets will continue. As a result, I do not envisage a replacement of Irish products in the marketplace, rather the focus on continuing to reduce the carbon-footprint of our produce. I am very confident that we can transition the sector to be more sustainable, with benefits for water, air quality and biodiversity, while continuing to meet market demands.