100. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions being taken to strengthen Ireland's food security and domestic food production capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35441/26]

Ireland is one of the most food secure countries in the world, ranking second of 113 countries assessed for food security in the Global Food Security Index. Furthermore, the most recent Teagasc Sustainability Report finds that Irish dairy, cattle, tillage and sheep farms produce protein sufficient to meet the requirements of over 36 million people, or 30 million people on a net basis (when inputs taken into account).

Nonetheless, recent geopolitical crises have challenged established assumptions on food security. The crisis in the Middle East has again focused our attention to potential vulnerabilities in food production and supply. We are seeing conflict disrupting production, global supply chains and markets, and impacting most on vulnerable groups. As I said at the Agrifish Council meeting in Luxembourg last week, food security is a pillar of global security and should be a priority for us all.

Ireland’s approach to delivering sustainable agriculture and food is set out in Food Vision 2030, our stakeholder-led strategy. While Ireland has a comparative advantage in grass-based livestock production - and this will remain at the core of our agri-food output - there are advantages in working towards a more diversified sector. I recently announced a mid-term review of Food Vision 2030, and food security will be among the issues to be considered. Cognisant of areas where Ireland is very import dependent, earlier this year I launched with Minister Burke an initiative to financially support new flour mills.

The EU Single Market and Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) are the critical mechanisms for ensuring food security throughout the European Union and Ireland. The Government will continue to support farmers as we make payments under Ireland’s €9.8 billion CAP Strategic Plan and via specific supports.

I will continue to engage actively and constructively in negotiations concerning CAP post-2027 to ensure that the agri-food 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.

My Department continues to engage through the European Food Security Crisis preparedness and response Mechanism (EFSCM), to ensure that we have adequate preparation for and responses to potential and real threats to global food security. Recent discussions have focused on the situation in the Middle East and its potential impact on food security, with particular focus on trade flows, energy and fertilisers.

I will be engaging further on these matters over the next months and during Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union.