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Dáil
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Biodiversity and farming

Summary

Martin Heydon said farmers are being supported to improve biodiversity while maintaining food production and exports under Food Vision 2030. Danny Healy-Rae kept demanding the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss be disbanded, and the Chair repeatedly intervened as the House went well over time.

Martin Heydon Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Fine Gael

In response to Deputy Danny Healy-Rae's points and questions, I reassure the House that farmers are, with the help of the State, on a journey to improve our biodiversity and ensure the food we produce is produced more sustainably into the future while continuing to produce the top-quality, safe and nutritious food that is trusted across the world. It is intrinsic to our economic prosperity, with exports worth €16 billion. Food Vision 2030, our ten-year strategy, looks to grow that to €21 billion to ensure the rural towns and villages that depend on the economic trade of our farmers continue to be vibrant and alive into the future. The State works with farmers in that regard and our commitment has been proven by the oversubscription and ambition of farmers for schemes. Some 46,000 applied to join the agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, which is beyond the 30,000 we had places for. We moved might and main to facilitate all the farmers who showed that level of ambition to get them all into the scheme. We will continue to work with them to improve those conditions into the future.

Comment on this

Disband the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss.

Comment on this
Catherine Connolly An Leas-Cheann Comhairle Independent

I call on the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, to conclude.

Comment on this

Disband the assembly because it is not being fair.

Comment on this
Catherine Connolly An Leas-Cheann Comhairle Independent

Deputy, please.

Comment on this

The assembly is tormenting and aggravating farmers who are working hard.

Comment on this
Catherine Connolly An Leas-Cheann Comhairle Independent

Deputy, I ask for your co-operation. We are way over time.

Comment on this