Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

523. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide information on recent media reports that a possible dairy retirement and reduction scheme may be introduced in 2024; if he will outline the broad thrust of such a scheme; if he will provide any clarification as to the breadth of ambition within his Department to deliver dairy farm retirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22522/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I established the Food Vision Dairy Group last year to advance the actions for the dairy sector identified in the Food Vision 2030 strategy, taking account of the requirement for the sector to contribute to achieving the targets set for agriculture emissions in the Climate Act process.

The first priority for the Group was to chart a pathway to achieving the legally binding target of a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture by 2030, equivalent to a reduction of 5.75 MT of carbon dioxide equivalent.

The Dairy Group submitted its final report in October 2022, which has been published on my Department’s website. The report identified measures which could contribute to reducing emissions. The publication was timely as it then served to inform the Climate Action Plan 2023 which was launched in December 2022.

A key recommendation of the Food Vision Dairy Group was to explore and take forward a voluntary reduction scheme for the dairy herd. My officials are currently working to explore this proposal further and there will be significant engagement with stakeholders over the coming months on the parameters of any scheme.

Our dairy farmers and the entire sector is already very sustainable but I want to make us even more so. I want to build a strong and sustainable future for our dairy farmers and the subsequent generations of dairy farmers. I will work collectively and collaboratively with dairy farmers and their representatives in charting a pathway forward.