Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am concerned when the whole narrative I hear is that we must reduce herd numbers in order to reduce the amount of carbon being produced. It is ultimately carbon but initially biomethane. While some report recommended culling and reducing herd numbers, different approaches can be used to reach the same goal, such as healthier animals producing as much food, vaccinated animals, producing a calf within the optimum period and ensuring they are not sick or dying in the middle of having a calf. We need to maintain efficiency within agriculture. We are number one in dairy and number five in beef genomics. When we consider the major part of agriculture in our overall industry and the importance of agricultural exports for the economy, I am not sure if the current policy direction is fair to agriculture.