Fiach MacConghail (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Dr. Ó Gallachóir for his presentation. As we proceed, it will be difficult to avoid a conflict between the energy and agriculture sectors. Dr. Ó Gallachóir put it mildly when he stated that there is a contradiction between Food Harvest 2020 and the targets we have set ourselves in terms of reducing emissions. I wish to tease out the position regarding what he refers to as the ambitious but achievable goal of reducing the target by 50% by 2020 through zero growth in emissions from agriculture.

Has he teased out the matter or done so with fellow social scientists, economists or agricultural economists? What is the reality? The other great challenge that we face is investing in electrification and continued electrification, particularly for heat. How can this be achieved in the short-term? Clearly, Government policy on economic development, particularly in the energy sector, is not in tune with the EU targets.

On a philosophical level, Dr. Ó Gallachóir seems a little more pragmatic than Professor Peadar Kirby and is not as aggressive about achieving a target within a timeframe, with claims there is a trajectory by which we will achieve it at a certain point. I would like Dr. Ó Gallachóir to comment on the matter.