Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
884. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has carried out an updated assessment of Ireland's food security in light of ongoing international conflicts, including instability in the Middle East and Ukraine, and the associated disruption to global food, fertiliser and energy markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30237/26]
View answerIreland is one of the most food secure countries in the world, ranking second of 113 countries assessed for food security according to the Global Food Security Index. Furthermore, the Teagasc Sustainability Report 2024 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.
However, recent geopolitical crises have challenged established assumptions on food security.
The Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and the EU Single Market are the critical mechanisms for ensuring food security in the European Union. The Government will continue to support farmers as we make payments under Ireland’s €9.8 billion CAP Strategic Plan and via specific supports, as required. 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.
The EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council of Ministers, of which I am a member, continues to support the work of the European Food Security Crisis preparedness and response Mechanism (EFSCM). The EFSCM was established in 2021 to monitor and respond to threats to EU food supply and security, including implementation of mitigation measures. To date, four reports on the State of Food Security in the EU have been published, and a food supply and security dashboard has been developed to monitor evolving risks to food security and supply.
Ireland’s approach to delivering sustainable agriculture and food is set out in Food Vision 2030, our stakeholder-led strategy. I recently announced a mid-term review of Food Vision 2030, and food security will be among the issues to be considered.
Prolonged elevated energy prices and increasing input costs are a concern. The Government recognises the exceptional pressure that rising fuel costs are placing on our farmers, contractors and fishers. A substantial support package for green diesel has been put in place, with the full removal of all non-carbon excise of 7.4c/l, and a further payment worth up to 20c/l through a €100 million Fuel Support Scheme. My Department will continue to remain vigilant of input price trends and will engage across Government on the evolving situation.
