-----that do not threaten food production?

I return to a familiar topic that I have raised in the Dáil a number of times. I acknowledge that the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, is taking this debate. I wish to express my disappointment, but also my understanding, that the Minister, Deputy Foley, is not in a position to take it. She is familiar with this long-standing issue. The opening of a new school in any community is an important milestone, particularly for younger generations. In Ballincollig, we have a fantastic network of education infrastructure,…

I do not mean to sound ungrateful in any way, but this is the fourth time I have raised the issue in the House. I raised it on 21 April and 13 May 2020, and in October 2020. The script is by and large the same. I had hoped that the Minister would be in attendance so that I could urge her to take a hands-on approach. It is of the utmost importance that the issue be brought to a conclusion so that all of the next steps, which take an average of five years in total, can be progressed. I will make a further point. I ap…

It is by dint of an extraordinary national endeavour that we are having a debate here today that has a degree of cautious optimism in the context of Covid-19. The possibility raised in the speech of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, of an earlier release from the restrictions that currently apply to international travel, even ahead of the introduction of the digital green certificate, is very welcome. As I understand it, the digital green certificate is a variation of either vaccination, a clear PCR test or a post c…

I thank Deputy Dillon for sharing his time with me. I also welcome the opportunity to say a few words on what is a significant Bill. The Bill is not in itself the outline of the challenge but it is the framework within which the challenge of climate change will be addressed. It is important in that context, no matter what position we come from as long we are not climate change deniers, that we are open to debate and consideration. There is a great deal of prejudice, propaganda, misinformation and ideology. There ar…

Fortunately, with a lot of progress being made in reducing Covid-19 transmission rates and case numbers, as well as with the roll-out of vaccination programmes, the European Commission has proposed a digital Covid certificate. However, there is a lot of information missing with regard to whether we intend to use that here and if so, when we will begin to use it and how. It is also unclear how the certificate, which is a facilitation of international travel, might interact with our own restrictions on travel. Is it …

I thank Deputy Murnane O'Connor for sharing time and I thank the Minister of State for attending and for her contribution. It is a unique set of circumstances whereby a Member of the Legislature can say with authority - and this reflects the contributions of other Members as well - that she does not really care about what the law is but that we care about what is right and wrong. As a member of a Government party, I have been disappointed with the response from Government so far in not initially coming out and sayi…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle and his office for facilitating me in raising this matter. The N22, which travels from Cork city westwards through Macroom and onwards to Ballyvourney, Killarney and towards Tralee, is the major access artery for the economy of the south west. That economy is the quintessential mixed economy, being dependent on foreign direct investment but also the indigenous industries of tourism, agriculture, food processing, the fishing industry and forestry. In fact, along this stretch of road can b…

I thank the Minister for his response. It is in the context of the review of the NDP that it is appropriate to consider this matter. A very significant commitment of funding for construction is not sought at this stage but it is critical that the preparatory work is done now. In the context of that review and the projects that will then find their way into planning, I ask the Minister to have an open mind in respect of this project. We are bedevilled by numerous examples of failing to plan and failing to see what i…

I welcome the opportunity to say a few brief words on the Brexit debacle and the legislation before the House. I listened from my office in Leinster House and from the back of the Convention Centre to much of the debate. It appears to me there is a self-delusion at play to the effect that if only we were properly prepared, we could have a benign Brexit. People have rightly referenced particular areas in this regard but a benign Brexit is a contradiction in terms. Brexit is an ugly beast that has been foisted upon u…

Deputy Doherty is being disingenuous.

I am very pleased to be before the House to present the annual transition statement for the agriculture sector. The long-term challenge for the sector, as outlined in the climate action plan, is to meet the national policy objective of an approach to carbon neutrality which does not compromise our capacity for sustainable food production. That plan goes on to set out sectoral greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for the first time. The target for agriculture is to reduce its emissions by between 10% and 15% b…

I thank the Acting Chairman. I thank the Deputies for their contributions. Deputy McConalogue's remarks were interesting in the context of placing the Irish agri-food and marine sectors in an international context and of recognising that we are, by any international comparison, efficient from a climate perspective. That is not to say we are deaf to what is happening in the international marketplace. I know from my own trade missions that we are being asked increasingly about the sustainability------

I thank Deputy Ó Murchú for his contribution and for his questions, particularly those relating to the area of forestry. I sometimes despair about the general narrative around forestry because it seems to suggest that forestry policy is monolithic and insists on a particular species and a particular way of planting. The issues that, understandably, excite people in the context of forestry policy relate to the type of policy which is, fortunately, no longer with us. This policy involved planting right up to the side…

Deputy Durkan made an interesting point in the context of us being a food island that exports to over 180 countries and with a domestic market of approximately 5 million people. We have a capacity to feed almost 50 million people. That is important to emphasise because who should feed the world is part of a global debate. It is those who have a capacity to do it in the most sustainable manner and our sustainability credentials, while not saying we do not have room for improvement, are amongst the most sustainable. …

The direction of travel for Irish agriculture has been abundant for many years now. There has been a lot of commentary in recent times about a REPS-style support in the environmental scheme. That, in itself, tells a story. Long before the current debate around targets began, farmers were acutely aware of their role in landscape management and sustainable agricultural product and in many ways were indicative of what was needed in the international marketplace. That was long before the debate we are now having was un…

I thank the Deputy for her contribution and her questions. Her contribution seems to be based on a misconception that one can produce food without producing greenhouse gases. That is a biological impossibility.

What we need to do is maximise our efficiency and sequestration opportunities and look at ways we can displace non-renewable energy sources in the agrifood sector. That is where our focus has been, if the Deputy looks at any of the initiatives under the Department's aegis. Deputy Eamon Ryan referred to the Lyons Estate and a research project there. Who funded the research project? It was the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. That is indicative of the direction of travel the Department is taking. Susta…

What I am saying is that it is not possible to produce food without producing greenhouse gases. We need to make sure that everything we do is geared towards greater efficiency and sustainability. We cannot, and will not, give up our natural advantages in food production but we will do it as efficiently as possible. Many of the initiatives, therefore, that we have under way, for example in lower emission slurry spreading or using protected ureas and calcium ammonium nitrate are all steps that improve the efficiency.…

Which food production?