Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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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 the scheme. While the Food Vision Beef and Sheep Group also included a proposed recommendation for a voluntary exit or reduction scheme in its final Report, after careful consideration and consultation with stakeholders, the proposition for a voluntary exit or reduction scheme for our beef herd is no longer being considered.

Our dairy farmers and the entire sector is already very sustainable but I want to make us even more sustainable. 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.