Food Harvest 2020 proposes an increase in the primary output in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector of 33% with an increase in exports of 42% and in milk production of 50%. The aquaculture sector is to expand by 300%.

'We fully share your view', Environmental Commissioners Dacin Ciolos [Agriculture] and Janez Potocnik [Environment] wrote, 'that Food Harvest 2020 would benefit from both an Strategic Environmental Assessment under that Directive and from an Appropriate Assessment under the Habitats Directive'.

According to the Commissioners, this would 'identify upfront any environmental risks that its implementation may entail, in particularly for the topics mentioned in your letter, and be able to adopt the plan accordingly.'

In a 23 page dossier provided to the two Commissioners in July, Friends of the Irish Environment [FIE] had highlighted the impacts of the increases in herd numbers, forestry expansion, and aquaculture.

Both the authors of Food Harvest 2020 and the Irish Environmental Protection Agency have stated that such assessments are necessary but the Minister told the Oireachtas that these formal assessments were not required.

He said the 'strategy' was industry, not Government, led and so did not require formal assessment. The Minister chairs the High Level Implementation Committee and has appointed an 'independent team of consultants' to do an 'environmental analysis of various possible scenarios related to their [Food Harvest 2020] realization.' Their Report is due next month.

The SEA Directive requires the assessment to "contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of plans and programmes with a view to promoting sustainable development".

The Habitats Directive requires that such plans or 'schemes' should be assessed to ensure there is no adverse impact on protected habitats and species.

The Commissioners informed FIE that the 'Commission's service were currently looking at the plan in the light of your submissions' and will revert to the organisation 'once they have concluded the examination of the issues arising.'

'We still have not received a reply to our request to the Minister for these Assessments made earlier this year,' said a spokesman for FIE. 'We are forwarding a copy of this letter to the Minister for his attention', he added. 

Comment: Tony Lowes 027 74771 /0872176316

Read the letter.