2571. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will establish a cross-departmental approach to support the growth of Ireland’s industrial hemp sector, addressing barriers in cultivation, licensing, processing capacity and market development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56761/26]

My Department carried out a consultative process in 2021 to examine the commercial viability of growing hemp for fibre use only. The report on this consultation was published in December 2022 (Link to website: gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/publications/report-on-consultation-on-the-potential-for-growing-fibre-crops-and-whether-these-crops-have-a-viable-market/)

As part of the consultation, stakeholders were invited to consider a number of questions including existing markets, the strengths and weaknesses of fibre crops and the scaleability of the Irish fibre crop/hemp industry, taking into account the market size and value, industry processing capacity and economic returns along the supply chain. Two submissions were received as part of that consultation.

The main finding of the report was that the growing of fibre crops such as hemp for the purposes of fibre production only is not currently viable in Ireland. However, hemp can be successfully grown in Ireland and offers opportunities for diversification and crop rotation while delivering environmental benefits. Potential markets also exist for hemp fibre with its use in the construction industry offering the most significant opportunity.

The scaling up of a crop fibre industry would be dependent on numerous factors including the development of stable markets, significant capital investment to increase processing capacity and collaboration with all stakeholders along the supply chain, all of which must be industry led.

The report noted that while the outcome of the consultation did not support the viability of fibre crops such as hemp in Ireland, it is a matter for the industry to address and bring forward a proposal containing viable options for consideration. I would welcome any such proposal.

Hemp is included as an eligible crop under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme. Current legislation in Ireland does not allow for the growing of hemp unless a specific license has been granted by the Health Products Regulatory Authority which operates under the auspices of the Department of Health.

A proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 on the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets in the EU was published in July 2025. The proposal includes the provision for harmonized EU rules covering all parts of the hemp plant with a maximum legal THC limit of 0.3%. Discussions on this proposal are continuing under the Irish Presidency.

Hemp Report