Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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69. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Ireland’s lead in carbon efficiency over other European Union Member States has changed significantly in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38222/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy raises an important issue in the context of climate action and the possible concerns around carbon leakage which is specifically reference in the Climate Act of 2021.

Ireland continues to be a very efficient producer of meat and milk protein, indeed our tillage sector is also highly efficient and produces some of the highest yields in the world year after year.

Approximately 10 years ago, the EU Joint Research Centre published a report showing Ireland and Austria as the most carbon efficient producers of dairy on a kg product per kg emissions basis. Ireland was also the 5th most efficient producer of beef.

While this study has not been repeated by the Joint Research Centre to the best of my knowledge, there are a number of official data sources that clearly show Ireland's positive performance in this area.

Teagasc published research in 2021 showing that in 2019, the carbon efficiency of cattle production in Ireland was 12.3 kg CO2 per kg liveweight output, this had decreased from 13.7Kg in 2014.

For example, the OECD would put the carbon intensity of beef production closer to 40-50Kg per kg output. Similarly, on the dairy side, Ireland was at 1.14kg CO2 per kg FPCM (fat protein corrected milk), the similar figure was 1.23 in 2014. Ireland continues to make incremental gains, in this is incredibly important for the marketing of Irish food exports all over the globe.

Given the improvements made since the initial EU Joint Research Centre report, I am very confident the carbon intensity of Irish meat and milk production compare very favourably across the EU, and indeed across the globe. This is mainly driven by our pasture based production system.

However, the challenge is clear, while improving emissions intensity is important, we must also reduce absolute emissions in the sectors in order to achieve our climate targets in 2030.