Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1854. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the progress being made to find suitable replacements for potato desiccants such as diquat; to provide any results there are to date as to their effectiveness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47426/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Alternative products, containing the EU-approved active substances carfentrazone-ethyl or pyraflufen-ethyl, are currently authorised in Ireland by my Department for use as potato crop desiccants.

Teagasc advises that these products can be used effectively in many cases as part of an integrated pest management approach. This approach may involve measures such as seed manipulation prior to planting to shorten the time to maturity in the field, judicious use of nitrogen fertiliser to avoid prolonging the canopy life of the crop and mechanical topping of the crop prior to desiccation to reduce the amount of haulm to be desiccated. In line with this approach, my Department provides support for haulm toppers under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS). 

Teagasc is continuing its efforts to promote and facilitate desiccation of potato haulms without the use of diquat through a broad range of actions, including research and extensive engagement with growers and the wider industry. Outputs from this work were presented at the Teagasc Crops and Technology Open Day held in Oak Park on 25 June 2025, which featured demonstrations of methods such as flailing and haulm pulling and the use of authorised products. It also included the first public demonstration in Ireland of novel technology involving the use of electricity to desiccate green haulms.

There is good progress by growers in implementing approaches based on Teagasc’s advice. My Department will continue to support these efforts, in conjunction with Teagasc.