Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I apologise to the Chairman. I was just about to send him a text because I have to do an interview at 1 p.m. I will ask the question and listen back for the answer. I thank all our guests for the presentations. I put it to all of them that while the technology works, would they agree that simply supporting the sector with this technology is no substitute for actually cutting the usage of methane and carbon in all areas. We want to support local, co-operative use of this technology but it should not be in order to boost or maintain the dairy herd or pig herd at the current level. There is a report from America I read that says "... anaerobic digesters are solving problems only created by large-scale factory farming in the first place, problems that are avoided in more sustainable systems ...". There is a role for it and it should be supported, but not as a substitute for other measures that may help us to reduce our emissions, especially of methane. I ask our guests to comment on that. Unfortunately, I must leave to do an interview now but I will look back at the record for the answers.