Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy does not seem to recognise the great work happening in farms here in Ireland. He should give proper recognition to the real commitment that family farms across this country are demonstrating to the environment and indeed to tackling the biodiversity challenge that we have, not just in this country but also in many other countries as well. In 2022 there was a reduction in emissions from Irish agriculture. I am confident that the figures for 2023 will also show a reduction in emissions. That is a reflection of the work that farmers are undertaking at farm level.

The Deputy may not be aware of this because I have never heard him refer to it. Over the last two years, there has been a 30% reduction in the use of chemical fertilisers. That has been achieved alongside maintaining food production and has contributed to emissions reduction. That is a reflection of the massive work that is happening at family farm level. We have family farms in this country. I regularly hear the Deputy refer to industrial farming. That is not what we have in this country. We have family farms which are which are run with the help of families and which produce food in a sustainable way. Some of the steps being taken at European level in recent years provide the appropriate flexibility to farmers to address the weather challenges we have seen not just here but across Europe over a period of time. The work continues to ensure we are contributing to the climate change challenge.

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