Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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417. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he continues to encourage compliance to meet emission reduction targets, while at the same time ensuring that the agri-food industry is not damaged given the prospect of world food shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27132/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the agriculture sector has been set a challenging and ambitious greenhouse gas reduction target under the Climate Action Plan 2021. The sector must reduce emissions by between 22-30%, to bring emissions from a baseline of 23MT CO2 eq into a range of 16 and 18MT CO2 eq by 2030.  A more precise emissions reduction target within this range is likely to emerge over the short term as a sectoral emissions ceiling is set for the sector.

My position has been consistent on this matter, agriculture will indeed need to step up its climate ambitions, like all sectors, in order to ensure that the economy wide reduction of a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030 is achieved. 

However, agriculture is not unique in this regard as a climate change is a challenge for everyone in society. The sector must find ways to reduce emissions while not compromising our ability to produce feed and food.

The Climate Action plan sets out the sort of measures the sector will need to take in order to transition to a more long term sustainable platform with co-benefits for water, air quality and biodiversity, while at all times, maintaining productivity in the sector.

I recently established a Food Vision 2030 dairy group, and they are about to submit their initial report, which will identify ways to stabilize and reduce emissions from the dairy sector. A similar group for beef and sheep will soon be established.

The advisory network in Ireland will play a key role in driving change at farm level. I am confident that by taking appropriate action on every farm in the country, we can maintain our grass based livestock production system, and continue to export our world class food products all over the globe.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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418. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which investment in agri-food section continues, keeping in mind the necessity to make provision for a growing population and competing with demands worldwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27133/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The agri-food sector is Ireland’s most important indigenous exporting industry, playing a vital role in the economy.  While the sector faces significant challenges such as COVID-19, Brexit, and trade uncertainty in general, environmental concerns, and future CAP and CFP reform; the sector also has many opportunities to develop further and prosper.

The 2022 Agriculture gross Vote of €1.891 billion provides the resources to deal with these current challenges and opportunities across the various sectors.  The Agriculture Vote is sub-divided into four expenditure programmes corresponding to my Department's four key strategic objectives.

Programme A Food Safety, Animal and Plant Health and Animal Welfare

The total allocation for Programme A in 2022 is some €341 million.

Our food safety and traceability systems continue to be recognised as among the very best in the world.  Programme A funds vital services to ensure those standards are maintained, including the Meat Inspection Service and the various supports provided by the Department testing laboratories.

Funding has been allocated to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to a double the ex-gratia funding for animal welfare organisations within two years. 

Programme B Farm/Sector Supports and Controls

A total of just over €939 million is available to Programme B in 2022, to be paid almost exclusively to farmers.This support is vital to farmers who deliver public goods and envi­ronmental benefits.  As well as the inherent environmental benefits involved, this investment enhances our sustainability credentials, which are invaluable as we serve increasingly demanding and knowledgeable customers at home and around the world. 

The provision allows key Rural Development Programme and Forestry supports to remain available through the transitional period between the two CAP programmes.  This provides the budget to extend, or rollover, existing RDP schemes from 2021 including more than €100 million in targeted supports for the beef and sheep sectors and €214 million for GLAS & REAP.

These schemes are vital income supports for farmers and provide a measurable public good.

The funding in Programme B is in addition to some €1.2 billion funding from the EU in respect of the various Direct Payment Schemes.

Programme C  Policy and Strategy

The total allocation for Programme C  Policy and Strategy is almost €403 million.  Many of the programme C allocations reflect the comprehensive approach to Brexit responsiveness.The allocation provides for ongoing access to the loan schemes through the Strategic Bank Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) for farmers, fishers and food and drink SMEs.

To support our food industry a provision of €7 million has been made through the Enterprise Ireland capital investment scheme, to support the meat and dairy sectors to invest in greater product and market diversification.  

Over the last number of budgets increased funding has been provided to Bord Bia to strengthen its understanding of consumer priorities and preferences in Ireland and in distant markets and to communicate those insights to Irish food companies for use in product promotion, development, branding and marketing.  The 2022 Bord Bia grant is €53 million.

Programme D: Seafood Sector

The provision for the Department’s 2022 Seafood Programme is €207.1 million.  This funding provides for the continued promotion of the environmentally sustainable development of fisheries, aquaculture and wider seafood industry.  This sector supports some 16,000 direct and indirect jobs in the coastal communities.  

The provision will help fund vital investment in our fishery harbours, most particularly in Killybegs, Howth and Castletownbere. 

In addition to the funding outlined my Department continues to engage with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on a number of  financial support measures to assist the agri-food sectors which have been impacted by Brexit and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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419. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department continues to consider international research in its efforts to control emissions and ensure adequate food supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27134/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy  may be aware, the agriculture sector has been set a challenging and ambitious greenhouse gas reduction target under the Climate Action Plan 2021. The sector must reduce emissions by between 22-30%, to bring emissions from a baseline of 23MT CO2 eq into a range of 16 and 18MT CO2 eq by 2030.  A more precise emissions reduction target within this range is likely to emerge over the short term as a sectoral emissions ceiling is set for the sector.

The Climate Action Plan sets out a range of measures the sector will need to adopt. These  measures which will deliver a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions abatement of approximately 3.7-4.2MT were published in the Climate Action Plan. Clearly this still leaves a gap to target, which will need to bridged by new technologies underpinned by research and innovation.  

Ireland continues to engage internationally on research and innovation. We maintain our role as co-chair of the livestock sub-group of the Global Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases. I recently committed Ireland to joining the global climate initiative, Agricultural Innovation Mission (AIM) for climate. This initiative requires global partners to increase research investment in climate smart agriculture. My Department and Teagasc also work very closely with New Zealand in the areas of methane and nitrous oxide. New Zealand shares similar challenges to us in terms of reducing GHG emissions from their pasture based livestock agri sector.

I have been consistent in my message that agriculture must contribute to the national efforts to reduce GHG emissions, while at the same time maintaining food production from our pasture based livestock production system. Research and innovation will play a key role in achieving this objective over the course of the decade.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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420. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which export markets for Irish lamb remain lucrative, notwithstanding international events such as war and transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27135/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Irish sheep farm families produce a world-class product that is in demand cross many global market. 

According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO) sheepmeat exports worth approximately €385 million, or 57,737 tonnes were exported in 2021, an increase of 8.3% in value on 2021. The overall market outlookfor Irish and EU lamb prices for 2022/2023 remains reasonable, although Irish lamb prices are forecast to experience some decline from the record high levels received in 2021.

Nonetheless, for the week commencing 9th May, the year-to-date average price for sheep meat was €700.78c/kg which is a 3% increase on the same period in the previous year. 

I am, however, acutely aware of the potential pressures being faced by many sectors across the agriculture industry due to the increase in input costs. Since the invasion of Ukraine, I have taken a proactive approach to dealing with the massive challenges arising for the agri-food and fisheries sector.

Farming is not alone in dealing with these challenges, but our sector is particularly exposed as a result of the invasion. I have taken a proactive approach, through the various measures I have announced since this crisis started, to support our farm families and their businesses and I will continue to do so.

Securing market access and diversifying trade remains a key aim for my Department. Developing market opportunities at home and abroad is one of the goals of Food Vision 2030. Irish sheep meat exports continue to thrive.

The top three markets in terms of value last year were all in the European Union (France, Germany and Sweden).

In terms of international markets, I was delighted to announce in April the agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on a veterinary health certificate for the export of Irish sheep meat to the US.  I hope to see exporters take advantage of this significant opportunity as soon as possible. 

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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421. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he and his Department continue to support the pigmeat industry, with a view to ensuring its growth and development particularly given the possibility of worldwide food shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27136/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The continued development of the pigmeat sector is a priority for the Government, given the pivotal role the industry plays in the national economic context. The sector supports approximately 8,000 jobs spanning production, slaughter, processing, feed manufacture and services. I am acutely aware of the challenges pig farmers are facing at present. I also acknowledge the role of Minister of State Martin Heydon in his role as chair of the Pig Roundtable.

In March, I announced the Pig Exceptional Payment Scheme (PEPS), with a fund of up to €7 million, for commercial pig farmers. Farmers were able to receive a payment of up to €20,000 per farmer. Over 80% of applications have since been processed for payment. The remaining applications are currently being processed.

On 13th April, I announced the Government's approval for exceptional aid supports of €15.8 million for the pig and horticulture sector, which will be funded from Ireland's envelope of EU exceptional adjustment aid under Commission delegated regulation 2022/467. The approval was for €13 million for the pig sector and €2.8 million for the horticulture sector.

Countries are required to notify the Commission of the measures to be taken before 30th June, and to pay the supports by 30th September 2022. My officials are developing the scheme at present in order to deliver a rapid as possible payment to farm families.

The financial schemes detailed above are part of a wider package of measures to support the pigmeat sector, including intensified efforts by Bord Bia to promote quality assured Irish pigmeat in the domestic and export markets, with dedicated media advertising campaigns underway nationally, as well as EU-funded pigmeat promotion programmes running in key export markets.

Teagasc has also intensified its dedicated, ongoing advisory supports being provided to pig farmers and is actively engaging with pig farmers to explore the options available to them. 

This is period of considerable challenge for the agri-food sector as a whole. My Department continues to engage at EU level to ensure a joined-up EU approach to the challenges arising from Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. The Department also continues to monitor the markets and any impacts on the agri-food sector.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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422. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the future of the beef industry with particular reference to the emergence of production costs and the likely impact on future development of the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27137/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Our beef and suckler farm families produce a work-class product that is in demand in markets across the globe.  

To date in 2022, beef prices remain at a seven year high with R3 Steer prices at 497c/kg as of 2^ndMay and an increase in slaughter of 12.4% in the year to date compared to 2021.

Teagasc forecasts that EU beef supply will decline in 2022 and that UK supply will remain unchanged.The outlook for Irish beef exports remains generally positive for 2022 according to Bord Bia.

I am, however, acutely aware of the potential pressures being faced by many sectors across the agriculture industry due to the increase in input costs.

I have taken a proactive approach in responding to the impact of illegal war in Ukraine on the agri-food sector, through the various measures I have announced since this crisis started, to support our farm families and their businesses and I will continue to do so.