Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their interpretation of the climate action plan. Having stayed quiet during the meeting, I will now make a few comments. As most people will be aware, I am a farmer and I want the next generation to farm my land. While we have to be acutely aware of climate sustainability, economic sustainability for farmers and rural Ireland cannot be dismissed either. I was very disappointed this week to see comments in the media that we do not, as a country, have a responsibility to feed the world. That is a very self-indulgent comment from a person who was recently given the responsibility to produce a programme to tackle the challenges of climate change.

We are a wealthy country. I spent much time on the Irish Dairy Board and many African countries depend on the dairy produce we produce to prevent them from starvation. While we are very comfortable here in our own country, and thankfully, our population is very well fed and looked after, that is not the case in all countries around the world. I am in favour and have said on the record continuously that we must recognise and face up to the challenges of climate change. The people of the world have to be fed as well, however we do it. Our dairy is the most sustainable in the world and our beef is the most sustainable in Europe. Those things cannot be forgotten. As Chairman of this committee, it would be remiss of me not to put my views on the record.

I thank An Taisce very much for its engagement, which was extremely informative. As some members said, there were definitely others here with a different point of view. That is what makes for the formation of good policy, however. I very much appreciate the witnesses' views today, which will go into the mix of reforming our submission for the climate action plan.

I propose that we suspend the meeting for 15 minutes and resume in private session on Microsoft Teams at 5.45 p.m. Is that agreed? Agreed. Please note that members will have to leave this Microsoft Teams meeting and join the separate private meeting call. I thank the witnesses and members.