Victor Boyhan urges focus on women farmers ahead of 2026

Thank you very much. Firstly, Minister, I'd like to welcome you. I'm particularly pleased because I'm from the same neck of the woods as you are, just outside Kilcullen, in Narrowmore, in County Kildare. So I know of your farming expertise, and I know of the great pride of your own community in relation to your appointment as Minister. I want to acknowledge that. I also want to acknowledge your officials here today. I think before I say if you ask one or two questions, I just want to touch on a few things that you've touched on in your presentation here today. And before I do that, I just want to say I think it's important that our engagement here is always robust, but it's respectful. And we've had many great debates in this committee in the last five years that I've served on it. But I think it all, at the end of the day, at heart is agriculture. And agriculture, horticulture, mushroom sector, forestry, equine, we sometimes forget equine. And I like that point that you touch in your own speech where rural community and rural development is hand in hand with agriculture, and sometimes we forget. And I also want to acknowledge what you say in your opening statement on the first page, that you intend to communicate a fresh understanding of what it is for farmers, fishers, foresters, and the food industry to contribute to Irish society and economy. And I think that's a very good start in kicking off a new relationship with a new minister and a new committee. I just want to touch on some issues in relation to CAP, because, of course, the new CAP is going to be very, very important. You touched again in your response earlier there to that, you know, Ireland is scheduled to assume the presidency of the Council of European Union in the second half of 2026. And indeed, that will, of course, you'll be a leading role in all of that, if you're still the minister. And I hope, I don't anticipate you won't. But if you are, you will play, of course, a very leading role in that in terms of chairing the Council meetings and the EU and steering relevant legislation to agriculture. So I think that's important. In relation to CAP, I had communication from the CAP network Ireland. And you will also be aware that in the United Nations sub-designation 2026, which is timely because you will be a critical role in all of this, as the International Year of Women Farmers. So that's a challenge. Why am I saying that now in 2025? I'm saying because, like assuming the presidency, there's a lead-in time and a very significant lead-in time. And I want to use some of my time in this agricultural committee to really, really champion women in agriculture. And I'm particularly pleased to see some women now on this committee. We didn't have many women in the previous committees, and I want to warmly welcome that, and I say that genuinely. And I want to acknowledge two pieces of work. Women in Irish Agriculture, which was a report commissioned by the National Rural Network. I think there's a huge substance in all of that. And also the action plan in terms of the national dialogue of women in agriculture that your department would be very familiar with. So I would hope that they would be very central teams of your ministry, minister, because I think it's really, really important that we support women in agriculture, that we have this so happened to be the United Nations designation in 2026. We also have the presidency in 2026. And I'd ask you not necessarily to answer that now, but to take away that request or that call or that ask, that you would really place a high focus on that. And perhaps you might even initiate some engagement during the, later in the year, back to this committee to see how can we build around stakeholder involvement in that? How can we put that to the fore of agriculture and our deliberations in the Oireachtas and indeed in this committee? Because I think that is really, really important. I don't want to say much more, minister. I don't really have a lot of questions to say at this particular juncture. I just want to wish you well. And to say that agriculture is vast and it has many, many opportunities. And I would just say that we would give equal importance, equal importance to our food production, our horticultural sector, our forestry sector, because I think that's really, really important. So you might like to make a few comments on that before I come back with one other question to you. Thank you very much, Senator Boyne. The people of Noramore would be very proud of us both right here right now, small little village in South Kildare, having two members of the Oireachtas here. So thanks for your warm comments. And the fact is, the point you make around women in agriculture is absolutely something we want to cooperate into our presidency. And there is an element that when you have the presence of the EU, Ireland obviously a huge honour for us, but comes with it a responsibility. Not just within the EU, but obviously then the EU outward facing. And women in agriculture is something that I promoted at events when I was on trade missions in Mexico or previously in different areas. But one area that is really important is in the area of Africa. And we are associated with the G20 this year in South Africa holding the G20. But incorporating the women in agriculture role and linking the food security in places like Africa is really, really important as well. Obviously women in agriculture also features in our program for government. And there's key measures I believe that I would look to progress with over my term in the Department of Agriculture to be able to enhance that role. Because I know how important it is. And we have so many farms where women are the key driver of the farm, but their name may not appear in the blue card or may not appear in the herd number and therefore their role isn't as recognised. But it's absolutely integral. And I know that from many, many circumstances. So happy to work with you and the committee members on any ideas you might have forward. For that or other elements of our presidency as we build. Because you are right, now is the time for planning it. When I was appointed Minister for Agriculture on the 23rd of January, four days later I was at my first Ag Fish Council meeting in Brussels. And I was like the new boy in school being introduced to everybody. And I realized 16 meetings later, if I'm still in the role, I'll be in the chair. So what I've done is had bilateral meetings with two or three ministers at every monthly meeting. So that by the time we get there, I've met every single one of them, know them well. I'll be in Warsaw at the informal meeting in a couple of weeks time in June. As well, build those relationships, get to understand their priorities and that they get understand ours. And working together, hopefully deliver a very good cap, but also a very good presidency that serves everyone well. Minister, thanks very much for that response. And just one other question then. In relation to devolved functions, you have two ministers for state. Three ministers for state. And there's been much talk and speculation about the difficulties of government or ministers coming together and getting devolved functions. So you have three ministers for state. Are you in a position to tell the committee when you will have signed off devolved functions for your three ministers for state? Because you know, currently their hands are slightly tied behind their back. You know their designated areas of responsibility in terms of the ministerial appointments, but they need this devolved function, statutory instrument, whatever is necessary. What can you tell us? And when do you think that will be complete in relation to the three ministers of the state that are under your ultimate responsibility? Yeah, I can inform the committee that it is a statutory instrument, which is a form of legislation. And that has to go through our legal services section of the department. It's a lengthy enough process. Obviously with all legislation, you have to be sure that it's right. The Attorney General has to be happy with it and it has to be robust and not have any unintended consequences. So there will be a memo going to the next cabinet meeting next week that will address the delegated functions and the roles of both Minister Healy Ray and Minister Grealish. And I hope and anticipate Minister Dooley's to be the week or two after that in terms of fisheries. I'm in the hands of the officials and legal services team as quick as they come through. But I don't accept their hands are tied behind their back. Everybody knows Minister Healy Ray's clear roles and responsibility. The same with Minister Dooley, who was down with the Commissioner in Cork last week. And the same with Minister Grealish, who's doing very important work in the area of new market development and research and innovation. That work continues, but the paperwork will be solved in the coming... But as you know, cohesion is important. Paperwork is important. And absolute clarity is important for you. Oh yeah. Because there is slight divergence in terms of opinion in the public media. We've read some of your ministers for state. But look, that's just nuance. And look, I can absolutely guarantee you, we're at idem. We are working well together. We are going to be a good team. I've, you know, there's enough work going around for all four of us. I can guarantee you, the amount of issues that are coming through. Okay. I don't doubt that. And I wish you well. And I wish the three ministers for state well in the work ahead. Thank you. Thank you.