Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Healy said in his opening statement that young farmers are the environmentalists of tomorrow. They are also the farmers of tomorrow. We are locked into a carbon compliance regime over the next decade or so. Currently, we are way off target according to some recent reports, even though some of our sectors are the most efficient in Europe, such as dairying and beef which is the fifth most efficient.

How does Mr. Healy believe the rise in emissions should be addressed? A year ago, the Oireachtas agriculture committee produced a report on climate change to which Macra na Feirme contributed. One of its recommendations was that Food Wise 2025 targets should be reviewed. In view of increasing emissions and the Food Wise 2025 targets, how does Mr. Healy believe these could be balanced to get a reasonable and suitable future?