Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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168. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions his Department is taking to strengthen domestic food production and improve national food sustainability in view of recent reports highlighting risks to Ireland’s food security due to climate pressure and supply chain vulnerability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66718/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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According to the most recent Global Food Security Index, Ireland is among the most food secure countries in the world and ranks second of 113 countries assessed for food security.

Additionally, Teagasc’s recently released 2024 Sustainability Report finds that Irish farms produce protein sufficient to meet the requirements of over 36 million people, or 30 million people on a net basis.

The Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) is the critical key mechanism for ensuring food security in the European Union single market. The Government will continue to support farmers as we make payments under Ireland’s €9.8 billion CAP Strategic Plan and via specific supports, as required.

I will continue to engage actively and constructively in negotiations concerning CAP post-2027 to ensure that the agrifood sector in Ireland and Europe continues to benefit from an ambitious, workable and adequately-funded CAP that balances economic, social, and environmental sustainability and underpins food security.

I have established a CAP Post-2027 Consultative Committee and this stakeholder group will provide critical inputs as we analyse the proposals, shape our positions, and work to secure a final outcome that meets Ireland’s priorities.

The European Union communication "Safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food systems” sets out actions in the three areas of food security, stability, and sustainability.

The EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council of Ministers, of which I am a member, continues to focus on these core areas and to support the work of the European Food Security Crisis preparedness and response Mechanism (EFSCM).

The EFSCM was established in 2021 to monitor and respond to threats to EU food supply and security, including implementation of mitigation measures. My Department, other Member States and private stakeholder organisations continue to collaborate and convene periodically through the EFSCM to ensure adequate preparations for and response to potential threats to global food supply and food security.

To date, four reports on the State of Food Security in the EU have been published, and a food supply and security dashboard has been developed to monitor evolving risks to food security and supply.

Underpinning our national ambitions, Food Vision 2030, Ireland’s stakeholder strategy for the agrifood sector, aims for Ireland to become a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems. I recently announced a mid-term review of Food Vision 2030, and food security will be among the issues to be considered.