Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wanted to push the issue of carbon tax a little more, but Deputy Charlie McConalogue has just mentioned it.

I thank the three organisations for their presentations. The purpose of the meeting is to contribute to a report the committee is producing. What one thing would the three groups like to see come out of the report?

How much intergroup communication is there? Every group is doing great work on behalf of its own sector or organisation and the figures are good. As highlighted in all three presentations, if we had an industrial environment, our percentage of agricultural output would not be near as high. The first presentation quoted figures that indicated while our level of emissions from agriculture was 30%, in England, with twice the output, it was only 8%. We are all aware of that figure which camouflages the situation and puts the emphasis back on agriculture. This is a global issue and agriculture is only a certain part of it. We hear that 70% of the grain Irish cattle are eating is imported from Russia by boat, train and lorry. While it might not be under the umbrella of agriculture, it is adding to global greenhouse emissions. I heard somebody compare it to a corner forward on a team scoring 1-2. The team loses but the scorer is happy. It has to be a team game in agriculture and all other sectors. Can there be communication between the sectors to eliminate that one example of 70% of the grain being imported when it could be grown here. It is not affecting the figures for agriculture, but if we do look at the bigger picture, the hauling of that grain from Russia, or wherever else, is having a major effect on the overall figures. I know that the grain growers cannot force the meat sector to start using Irish grain. However, could there be some incentive from one to the other. Has that issue being looked at? Have the groups talked collectively to see where improvements could be made that would be beneficial to each sector? As I asked, if the delegates could write a line in the report we are formulating, what would be the one thing they think would have the greatest impact to help the sectors while improving the environment?