Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The only concern I would have regarding high value quality produce is that a significant section of our population who would not be able to afford it might be confined to consuming the by-products of the high value produce at the end of the food chain.

With regard to national roadmaps and having an overarching vision in that respect, which I favour, there seems to be major resistance to it. We heard from people from the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish seem to have taken a far more beneficial approach to that industry. Agriculture bought into, or was already engaged in, this concept at a very early stage and the politicians had to catch up with them. From An Taisce's point of view, where is the resistance being generated and how can we change that? We are behind in meeting our targets and we will not meet our 2020 targets, but if we are to catch up, we need to act quickly to change that mindset. Is the resistance coming from the IFSC Clearing House Group or from where it is coming? Who are the influential people with the power who are setting that agenda?

If we are to meet the different stages of targets and then the overall 2050 targets, we have to examine seriously our spatial strategy, transport, the village structure and if routes are run around villages and the hubs of villages. I am in favour of that, but Mr. Nix's organisation has resisted it. I will cite one good local example where An Taisce did this in Laois and about which I am confused. Mr. Nix said that people must able to walk to the local pub and I agree with him on that, in the case of those who take a drink, but people should also be able to walk to the local post office and local shop, perhaps not to do their weekly shopping but at least to buy essentials. Ideally, children should be able to walk to the local school. That means there is a need to have housing developments around the centres of villages like Vicarstown. I am confused about An Taisce's approach to that. If we are to meet the targets, we must have more sustainable rural, village, town and city development. Mr. Nix might address the rural and rural village aspect.