Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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261. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason farm organisations were not included in the Carbon Farming Working Group while appointing representatives of co-operatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26018/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Carbon Farming Working group was established in August 2023 and has representatives from Bord Bia, Teagasc, Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM), EIT Climate KIC, Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), Irish Co-operative Sector (ICOS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Economic and Social Council (NESC) and the Department of Environment, Communication and Climate (DECC).

Stakeholder engagement has been central to policy development in this area with DAFM holding meetings and workshops with relevant stakeholders which included farm organisations, agencies of the department and the non-government organisation (NGOs) sectors. In relation specifically to engagement with farmers, all farm organisations and their representatives were consulted through individual stakeholder meetings to inform the process. These included, the Irish Farmers Association, the Irish Creamery and Milk Suppliers Association, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Association, the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association, the Irish Grain Growers Group, the Irish Organic Association, Macra na Feirme and individual farmers through various publicly funded European Innovation Partnership Projects (EIPs).

In relation to co-operative involvement, specific technical expertise was available in ICOS as ICOS’s representative currently sits as a representative of Copa Cogeca on the carbon removals expert group at EU level for the development of the EU Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Certification (CRCF) Regulation.

I am reviewing participation of the group with a view to including farm organisations.