Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Reference was made to the Citizens' Assembly and the recommendations that came up there. I am a farmer from rural Ireland and I am worried about the recommendations around carbon tax or fines. Ireland's largest indigenous business and some 90% of exports are agricultural. I am worried about how the recommendations can be married with our produce such as cattle, beef, bacon, lamb, other meat, dairy and grain products etc. The Citizens' Assembly talks of bringing in a carbon tax that will affect farmers. We are aware of the viability of agriculture at the moment and the profit margins are very small. Will Mr. Griffin clarify how the taxes and the sector could be married? Ireland exports some 90% of its agriculture produce into Europe. Are we then going to subsidise beef, for example, coming from Brazil or South America? What about the carbon footprint of transporting that across the Atlantic? How will all of this be married together to keep agriculture viable in the State if carbon taxes are being considered? I do not believe that Ireland is getting recognition for the trees it has or for the amount of grass that is grown here. The Citizens' Assembly did not consider these factors. Speaking from an agriculture point of view, I would like Mr. Griffin's view on how all of this will be reconciled?