Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have a couple of questions overall. Between the dairy sector and the ICSA, as this goes for both groups, given what we heard earlier that even if everything is done right there will still be excess emissions from the existing farming using traditional methods, what are we to do? Should we say that we will have higher emissions and we will sustain that, and put our hands up and say we will take it on the chin and go with it?

In the dairy sector, the matter is at the very early stages. As to whether anything will happen or whether they can achieve that, I wonder is it just trying to be seen to be doing something rather than doing and achieving something.

The organic farmers state there is little point having Irish farmers dramatically change their approach only to result in insignificant, or possibly no, impact on a global problem. I suppose that implies we are insignificant and it does not really matter what we do, and we should do nothing. I wonder about that.

Teagasc referred to forestry's negative impact. The changes that have taken place at an EU level might make forestry more acceptable for individual farmers but there definitely is a problem, in Leitrim and other places, where it is companies that are involved in forestry. I wonder if the witnesses would comment on the possibility of forestry off-set in the context of climate change overall.