Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Carbon farming includes those farming practices that remove CO₂from the atmosphere and contribute to the climate neutrality objective. A certification system should enable more effective rewards for carbon farming facilitated through either public or private initiatives.

I am keen to see the implementation of a Carbon Farming Framework in Ireland. Some important groundwork needs to be completed in order to set up a quality and successful scheme which aligns with the EU Commission legislative proposal for aUnion certification framework for carbon removals which was published on 30 November 2022.

The stated aim of the initiative is to ensure high-quality EU certified carbon removals, through a transparent and credible governance framework. I am cognisant of the fact that any activity at national level is in line with and complements this EU proposal.

I will start with the steps outlined in the EU certification framework. The Commission proposes that it:

(i) develops certification methodologies, in consultation with experts and stakeholders; and

(ii) harmonises the implementation of the certification framework.

It is anticipated that the EU scheme will come into full operation in 2030. Several milestones will have to be achieved before the scheme becomes active. Firstly, the EU Expert Group on Carbon Removals will complete its work on baselines in 2023. Secondly, the regulation will be published before the end of October 2024.

In 2025, the operational phase of the framework will commence on a phased basis, empowering accreditation and certification bodies, with the establishment of a registry and other frameworks.

The Commission proposal intends that in 2028, all land managers will have access to verified removal data and baseline data collection. In this context, my Department has provided finance for multiple research programmes and projects in this area. This will support real time data analysis will help plan, explore opportunities and prioritise actions to reduce emissions and enhance removals, while aligning with the EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework.

Nationally, there are knowledge and data gaps that will need to be bridged to facilitate carbon farming and that is why I have identified and funded a number of key research and demonstration activities that will also help to provide baseline information on key activities within the agricultural and land use sectors.

As regards the demonstration element - our recently launched country wide network of Teagasc supported Signpost Farms will showcase how best practice management techniques can be adopted on a wide range of enterprises and soil types.

These research and demonstration activities along with the recent establishment of the Carbon Farming Working Group, will allow us to address a number of requirements around carbon farming mainly in the areas of establishing baseline data, auditing, governance and address the need for the Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) of carbon removals/reductions.

In the meantime, my department will continue to provide financial support for farmers providing eco system's services through a variety of EU and nationally funded schemes.