Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue has received a progress report from the Food Vision Beef and Sheep Group, which outlines the measures that will be analysed by stakeholders.

These measures - 20 in total - to cut emissions from the beef sector are divided into 'direct impacts' and 'enabling actions', with nine measures in the former group and 11 in the latter group.

Direct impact measures would be reductions to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that could be counted in the national agriculture inventory of GHGs.

Enabling actions would not directly impact GHG emissions, but would support the implementation and adaption of the direct impacts.

The measures identified in the progress report are proposed for further analysis and evaluation. The report does not represent an agreement at this time.

The nine direct impact measures are as follows:

It is understood that the targeted emissions reduction through these measures, in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2 eq), would be accounted for through measures one to seven, with measures eight and nine offering additional reductions depending on the uptake of the voluntary schemes.

The 11 enabling actions outlined in the progress report are as follows:

Commenting after he received the report, Minister McConalogue said: "I appreciate that the measures set out at this interim stage are not agreed by the group, but will be considered in further detailed analysis as part of the group's ongoing work.

"It is important to recognise that all parts of the sector are working together to find the best sustainable pathway forward for the sector," he added.

"We need to act with a sense of urgency both to meet our legal commitments, and to safeguard Ireland's well-deserved reputation as a sustainable producer of quality beef," the minister said.

Reacting to the progress report, the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) called on the minister to set out funding levels that will be made available to the sector in order to advance discussions.

Brendan Golden, the association's livestock chairperson, said that the report identifies the importance of ensuring the economic viability of the sector in order to contribute to emissions reductions.

"Suckler and beef farmers do not have the financial capacity to invest in measures that may or may not deliver returns in the longer term. We are not prepared to take these risks," Golden added.