Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is no point in masking this. Because of the increased opportunities in the post-dairy quota era, emissions that were either flatlining or on a downward trajectory have begun to rise again. We have to factor in the fact that while they are rising, we are still the most carbon efficient. There is demand. Is it better for people who want dairy products to buy them from producers who are efficient and committed to being more so, or from producers who have a much higher carbon footprint? We have an advantage in this regard. We should build on that, but we must do so in the most climate-friendly way.