As I am sure the Deputy will agree, the people of Ireland have shown great support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people following the illegal invasion by Russia. The Government remains resolute in its solidarity and support and will continue to co-ordinate a humanitarian, economic and diplomatic response to the crisis. Significant implications are being seen across all sectors, including the agrifood sector. As well as the immediate humanitarian crisis, which takes priority, we need to take the necessary steps to e…

Our assessment is that there are sufficient supplies of animal feed at present and importers are actively competing on the global market to ensure supply continues uninterrupted. However, prices are high. I meet with stakeholders on an ongoing basis to discuss the impact of the crisis on supply chains. As the Deputy knows, I established a rapid response team in my Department, along with the national fodder and food security committee, which I tasked with the preparation of a response to the emerging crisis in feed,…

Regarding energy and solar panel supports under TAMS, there is a requirement and conditionality where we are using EU funding that any energy produced be for on-farm use as opposed to export onto the grid. We are establishing a separate funding stream for energy production to the grid to ensure there is no impact on other TAMS applications. This scheme will allow for battery storage capacity, which will help farmers whose usage goes up and down at different times of the day. TAMS will be positive in supporting farm…

The EIA agriculture regulations cover three different types of on-farm activities, including the restructuring of rural landholdings, which relates to the removal of hedgerows. The thresholds for proposed hedgerow removal where screening applications are required under the regulations are any length of field boundary above 500 m proposed to be removed or any proposed removal of field boundaries to create a field area greater than 5 ha. Any landholder who wishes to carry out field boundary removal that exceeds eithe…

I take the Deputy's point that the thresholds are high. Across our agricultural policy and under the new CAP strategic plan, the whole thrust of what we are doing is about trying to increase the number of hedgerows on farms and incentivise and recognise their good maintenance and protection. Therefore, the various schemes, including CAP, the eco-schemes and the environmental schemes, are very much about increasing and improving the quality of our hedgerows as well. Certainly, there is a very strong understanding am…

There are measures in the new ACRES for encouraging and rewarding the improvement of existing hedges and how they are managed, and keeping them at a higher height to encourage wildlife and birdlife, in particular, to use them. There has been a whole step change in farmers' understanding of hedges and what they contribute. That is really important. Certainly, it is a long time since I have seen a hedge removed in County Donegal. I am seeing them being put back and restored increasingly. How we can encourage that fur…

I thank the Deputy. There is a fuel challenge at the moment. I put in place an extra one-month tie-up scheme at the request of the sector to support the fuel challenge that is there as a result of the illegal invasion of Ukraine. That scheme has been in place since June and will run until the end of November. I monitored fuel prices closely during the summer and there has been a lot of volatility in that regard. Prices peaked in August and dropped thereafter but have since increased again. I am reassessing the situ…

Excuse me.

A significant part of the Common Fisheries Policy focuses on quota species whereas much of the inshore sector is concerned with non-quota species. The Common Fisheries Policy itself deals in large part with quota management.

I thank the Deputy. I will try to be brief to allow for another question. The Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 will provide for the statutory prohibition of fur farming. A commencement order is being drafted, which will include the commencement date for the prohibition on fur farming. We are working in close collaboration with the farms affected by the Bill. This is a significant change to their enterprises and how they have operated for many years. We are treating the far…

I accept it is a programme for Government commitment. It has also been a strong commitment of the Deputy and the Green Party. We will bring the matter to a conclusion as soon as possible.

I thank the Deputy. As part of the climate action plan process, I am in regular contact with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications with regard to establishing pathways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the agriculture and land use sector. Measures to reduce emissions from our organic soils form part of the sectoral commitment and a target of 80,000 ha for reduced management intensity by 2030 of grasslands on drained organic soils was included in the climate action plan 2021 land use ta…

The Deputy's point is well made. It is important that we have balance in the steps we are taking. We must bring down our emissions and reduce our carbon footprint because we have to deal with the climate challenges. Alongside that, we must ensure food security because there are challenges in respect of food production. Food is becoming more difficult to produce in many parts of the world, specifically as a result of the climate issue. We must consider both of those aspects when it comes to any proposals we are cons…

I thank Deputy McNamara for raising this Topical Issue.

The written replies are available. Deputy McNamara raised this issue with me previously, as did other Oireachtas Members in the county. I have also been contacted by Deputies Crowe, Carey and Cannon and Senator Dooley on this issue. It is an issue of concern in the local area. European legislation aimed at the protection of the European Single Market requires that official controls to verify compliance with the requirements of European Union legislation are carried out at a border control post at the point of first…

As the Deputy knows, my approach as Minister is to make sure we are reasonable and balanced in all parts of the country, and that we invest in all sectors and do things as close as possible to the areas in which they most matter. That should be and is the right approach by the Government. Certainly, with regard to how we invest and on the work the Government is doing in respect of investing in different parts of the country, it is very much to put back in rural areas to ensure regionalisation and that people in all…

From my understanding, that is the case that has been made and the point that has been put forward as a counterpoint to the fact that it should be dealt with and processed at Dublin Airport if it lands at Dublin Airport and there is a border control post there, which there is. I have asked my officials to meet to discuss and tease out the issue. I will revert to Deputies McNamara, Cathal Crowe and Carey and Senator Dooley on their representations. It is important that the issue be assessed fully and that the argume…

I thank Deputy Harkin for raising this important issue. I recognise the work she has done on this issue over the past while. I am working to address it and wish to bring peace of mind as quickly as possible to the landowners in the area. As the Deputy referenced, I visited those affected by the landslide last November together with the Deputy, the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, and Deputies MacSharry and Kenny. I know councillors Paddy O'Rourke and Mary Bohan have taken a strong interest in it as well. The Mini…

The landowners are important and they count. That is why both I and the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, travelled there and met the farmers directly. We made a commitment to them that we were going to work to put a package together. I had hoped to have it concluded at this stage but we have the outline of the package very clear. I and my officials are engaged with the Minister and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform at the moment on getting approval for it. We hope to get approval and get it soon. I hope …

I will be sharing my time with the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon. I am delighted to speak about the agriculture budget introduced by me, the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, and the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, who is abroad representing the Government at the moment. In an overall sense, the Government has delivered an €11 billion budget to support our families, farmers, fishers, businesses and economy through a period of tremendous uncertainty. This is a budget for urban and rural areas and for all of I…