Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentation. It was very informative and very useful. The essence of agricultural production is to produce in a healthy and clean environment. In terms of our sectoral interests we are heavily focussed on producing from grass. Teagasc is holding a number of seminars and symposiums focussing on that issue and discussing how that can be increased. This has been a singular focus for the industry, in conjunction with the incentives provided by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine at State level. It focusses on greater efficiency. Bord Bia has introduced Origin Green, and there has been the development of smart farming techniques along with technological advances.

A lot of work has been going on, notwithstanding the fact that many people seem to focus on the agricultural industry as a major source of our national greenhouse gas emissions. It appears to be somewhat misinformed. In order to rebuff some of the misinformed comments about greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural industry, do we have the ability to produce a comprehensive database to show that what has been done at farm level, the policy measures level and the objectives that have been set out, implemented and achieved and the reductions that have been seen across the sectors? The beef genomics scheme was mentioned. I am a very strong proponent of that scheme. It leads to greater efficiency and better production levels, and I know farmers who are gaining from it. Is it the ambition of the EU to change the role and focus of the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, so that it becomes carbon production neutral in nature? I have no doubt that we can set out to achieve a carbon neutral objective which can be aligned with achieving sustainable food production.

The world's population is projected to rise to 9 billion people in a few years time. Food is needed. There is a deficit of food all over the world. If we stall the horse at this level and revert back, notwithstanding the levels of efficiency, productivity and technological advancement that will undoubtedly emerge over the next number of years, with smart farming etc., it will be very difficult to achieve. There will be massive food imbalances, with deficits likely to arise. Do I perceive the European Commission setting out individual targets at EU level for each sector and that countries in the EU would set similar targets?

Opportunity has been missed in forestry, and I blame Coillte for that. I have relatives who worked in that body. Many people have been let go from it. Places have been left without being replanted for a long time. They had men there who worked from 8 o'clock in the morning to 5 o'clock in the evening who knew their job, planting, thinning, spraying, maintenance and weeding. They have lost an opportunity.

I am not saying anything to the witnesses that I have not said to a Member that I started out with, Deputy Lowry. I had many a clash with him over this issue. We are now playing catch-up. I have read the host of new documents that have been provided. I had good reason to read them because I am working on something in the forestry area for a book. The documents are very helpful and well set out. They are very helpful. I can see that Coillte is stuck at 6,000 or 6,500 acres when it should have had 8,000 ha a decade ago. We are now playing catch-up. Forestry is the best place to sequester carbon and to lock it in and gain carbon credits.

I have been on this committee for so long that I will be made statutory in the near future, but I have been consistent in my view that Coillte has missed an opportunity. The private sector's role has been acknowledged recently, and it is important that the private sector are involved. I respect Deputy Martin Kenny's viewpoint. My constituency is near Leitrim and I have heard the concerns that people have that the forestry industry might be taken over by corporations. Coillte is trying to encourage individual farmers to plant, and that is a good thing, but it should not become a corporate magnet. Corporations will always get in, as indeed will pension funds, particularly if there is a bit of profit to be had in something. That is the nature of the beast. It is important that there is an outlet for what comes out and that we are not engaging in a displacement policy by importing timber. The one thing we should not be importing is timber. We have a good climate and lots of land. There is crossover between Coillte and Bord na Móna. Bord na Móna has 220,000 acres of cutaway bog.

There is no need to be getting too excited about going in and grabbing good land. All sorts of marginal land can also be used in various ways. There is a great deal of potential there and I would advocate that the State would encourage to the Department to get more involved. There are lots of opportunities to plant more trees. Let us get Bord na Móna involved and let us have no more of this nonsense. Those involved can actually solve the problems themselves. I am aware that there is a huge time lag and that is why ten or 12 years ago I said that the boat was going out and there was nobody calling a halt. It was just a rush to get rid of people and get it into private hands. That was it but thankfully we have put a stop to that. It is now safe to hear that it is a semi-State company. There is huge potential in it and the Department is playing a good role, from what I have read, by means of grants, road schemes and so on. I still believe, however, that we have a lot of catching up to do.

Forestry will play a huge role in ensuring that Ireland can continue production in agriculture. We have to play a role and cannot be agnostic about this. As we have seen from recent events, we cannot be blind to reality. Figures have been read to the committee and while it is going in the right direction, it needs to be accelerated in order to achieve what is required. It is important that people are not allowed to make comments that may be misinformed or misguided. It is essential that the committee sends out a message to the effect that the agriculture industry is extremely important. When there is nothing else in rural areas, it is no use someone sitting in an ivory tower saying that a sector should be cast adrift because those areas will be left with nothing. This is particularly relevant in the context of good food production, in respect of which Ireland has, thankfully, secured an A plus status. I hope we will continue to make progress in that regard.