Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also thank both Teagasc officials for coming before us and wish to be associated with the remarks to Professor Boyle. In the Ag Climatise report the expansion of forestry by 8,000 ha per year is cited as one of the big ambitions to further the sequestration of carbon. However, the Minister stated in the past month that that target will not be met this year. For years, we have had complete mismanagement of the forestry sector and that deters new entrants. Can the targets set out for sequestration through forestry be met if reform of forestry is so slow in bearing fruit? Do the witnesses have any idea of what impact delays in the licensing process will have on the sequestration targets?

Has the Minister asked Teagasc to complete a full economic analysis on the likely implications of the European Green Deal for Irish farm profitability? The IFA indicated it had asked the Minister to do this but we have not heard anything from it since.

I am aware that Teagasc is conducting research on grass management which has made findings about the introduction of clover, which Professor Boyle raised earlier. Is any evidence available to show whether there is any difference between the CO2 storage capacity of, shall we say, old grass versus new grass?