Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Macra na Feirme for its contribution. The contribution in response to questions has been much better than the written statement because much of the written statement is basically the same as what the IFA and everybody else has said and it is really depressing to read it to tell the truth because there is no acknowledgement of the facts or of the reality of the situation which the witnesses are getting to in their responses to questions, which is welcome.

I refer to Food Wise 2025. Meeting the requirements of Food Wise 2025 and meeting the climate change requirements are not compatible but I would like to see Macra na Feirme outline how it sees that they are compatible.

The witnesses mentioned the Teagasc report and how urea fertiliser and forestry can mitigate climate change but are any of those improvements being made? The tone of what the witnesses are saying is that they can help if we do it but we are not doing it. Why is that? Is it about payments or the Common Agricultural Policy?

I totally agree with what the witnesses said about renewables, that makes perfect sense.