Written answers
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Food Industry
Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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1726. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide estimates of the carbon footprints per litre of fat-filled milk powder produced and of milk; and whether export emissions are included in the carbon footprint of fat-filled milk powder given that it is only produced for foreign markets. [20130/25]
Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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1727. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if fat-filled milk powder is sold to consumers in Ireland, if it is not sold to consumers in Ireland, the reasons why it is not sold, and if he will make a statement on his Department’s view on government-funded bodies like Bord Bia facilitating the sale of fat-filled milk powder in foreign markets. [20131/25]
Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1726 and 1727 together.
Fat-filled milk powders are available to consumers in Ireland primarily via online retail. The placement of product on the market is a commercial decision for companies to make in accordance with the applicable legislation and market demand.
Ireland is a small open trading economy and Irish dairy products are exported to around 140 countries around the world, including markets in Africa. Bord Bia is the Irish semi state agency with responsibility for the promotion of Irish food, drink and horticulture both in Ireland and in overseas markets. While promotional campaigns are an operational matter for Bord Bia, they have advised me that their activities promoting Irish dairy to international customers are not typically product specific.
Ireland’s carbon footprint per unit of milk produced is one of the lowest amongst milk-producing countries because of our grass-based production system. My Department does not collect data on the carbon footprint of the constituent elements of dairy production.
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