Dr. Larry O'Connell:

The work done by Teagasc this summer, in terms of identifying things that can be done in agriculture to reduce emissions, has been very positive. The success of the practices that have been proposed will be determined by whether they are taken up by a high percentage of farmers. It is important for detailed plans to be put in place now. We know it takes time for improvements in the economic breeding index to be seen in the herd. We need to know what will happen in the next two or three years. Rather than waiting until 2020 to come back to this issue, it is important for plans to be put in place for these specific measures. Those plans should cater for the support practices and farm discussion groups, etc. that are required to roll these practices out across more farms.