Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will follow on from Deputy Leddin with reference to the two previous submissions this morning and indeed on a broader scale. Does Mr. Price not give any consideration to the possibility of technological improvements, sequestration, farming habits and land-use improvements? We all have to accept that agricultural emissions will be largest in Ireland, considering we did not have an industrial revolution, as such.

Agriculture is our largest indigenous industry. It has developed over the years and decades and it is the only form and source of income in many rural areas. To put quotas and a limit on that is not a possibility for many of the smaller-sized family model farms. However, there is significant potential, with correct land use, for them to incorporate sequestration and carbon capture through forestry and change of land use.

Does Mr. Price give any consideration to the use of technologies and our natural resources? The farmer producing beef and milk is the custodian of the environment. He has his hedgerows, forestry and grassland. Where does Mr. Price see that when it comes to balancing? We are, at the end of the day, trying to approach net zero. We will not eliminate emissions. We just need to cut our emissions and try to equal them with sequestration or carbon capture and storage.