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

I established the Food Vision Dairy Group as well as the Food Vision Beef & Sheep Group in 2022 to advance the actions for the beef and sheep and dairy sectors identified in the Food Vision 2030 strategy, taking account of the requirement for the sectors to contribute to achieving the targets set for agriculture emissions in the Climate Action Plan.

The first priority for both Groups 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. Both the Dairy and Beef & Sheep groups submitted their final reports towards the end of 2022, which have been published.

A key recommendation of the Food Vision Dairy Group was to explore and take forward a voluntary reduction scheme for the dairy herd. Discussion on the proposed scheme with stakeholders has primarily taken place within that forum - which includes the farm representative bodies, dairy processors and State agencies. In addition, the Department sought the views of Group members as to how such a scheme might work bearing in mind the principles, as set down in the report, that need to be considered in its development.

There are a number of legal, financial and state aid complexities with implementing a scheme of this nature. For that reason it is not at a stage where it can be easily advanced. Therefore proceeding with such a scheme is not a priority for the moment and no exchequer funding provision is currently in place for such a scheme.

My priority right now is to get on with implementing the other measures in the Climate Action Plan which are more feasible. It is estimated that emissions from the agriculture sector reduced again in 2023 for the second year in a row, and so we are starting so see some positive momentum in our climate efforts for the sector. We need to continue with this progress and quickly advance the actions, including technical solutions around feed additives in particular. Our implementation of the alternative measures, and nudging farmers towards those, is also top of my list of priorities right now. These are understood by farmers and will have immediate climate impacts.