Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the Citizens' Assembly recommendation for an independent review body. If, on the one hand, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and farming organisations are encouraging farmers to rear more cows and herds for dairy and for export, at no stage would the Department of Finance step in to say this will cost a significant amount in the long run because of carbon emissions. Where is the joined-up thinking? I do not believe there is joined-up thinking in the Government or in the State. That is why I agree with the Citizens' Assembly recommendation that we need an outside independent body that keeps an eye on all these Departments and tries to force through that joined-up thinking about the size, challenge, seriousness and urgency of the situation we are facing.