Mr. Paul McKiernan:

I will keep it at a reasonably high level. I have no wish to get down into what may or may not have been said elsewhere. The national climate policy document is completely consistent with the findings of the European Council. All 28 Heads of State agreed in October 2014 that European policy to 2030 should examine the best means of encouraging sustainable intensification of food production while optimising the sector's contribution to greenhouse gas mitigation and sequestration, including through afforestation. How do we respond to demand? Let us be clear: the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations will make it clear where the world population is going as far out as 2050. That is something of every country has to be cognisant. Ireland is not going to feed that demand on its own.

There is another key aspect to this. The joint research centre of the European Commission undertook a detailed survey of various agricultural systems throughout the 28 member states. The survey was published in 2011. Ireland and Austria were found to have the lowest carbon footprint per kilogram or per litre of product. We were joint fifth on beef, something we can improve on. If Ireland opts out of seeking to feed these markets, the gap will be filled. Will it be filled by a producing country as efficient as the Irish system? The answer is open to conjecture. That is the position at a high level. Mr. Muldowney may wish to make some further remarks.