Mr. Tim Cullinan:

I thank Deputy Durkan for his comments. I agree with his sentiment. He is right; we saw what happened with the beet industry in Ireland many years ago. To this day when I speak to farmers, they regret that decision was made at the time. We have to find a balance here. We all acknowledge the challenge around climate change. Last year, we all agreed we would reduce emissions by 25%. We as farmers came on board with that and we are working on a plan around that already. We can demonstrate that we can achieve 18% of the 25% in the current measures that farmers are doing. Further measures will be adopted as we go along. There is a substantial cost around all of this as well. It will lead to further costs for farmers and a cost for producing food as well.

The Deputy mentioned forestry. We obviously have many concerns around forestry. We do not want to get fully into the debate on forestry this evening but, obviously, we have huge concerns around the development regarding Gresham House and a pension fund getting involved. I have grave concerns around that and I did see it as a vehicle for Coillte to be able to draw down premiums. We have our Government coming forward with a proposed package, which is not agreed yet, of €1.3 billion. We must ensure that funding is ring-fenced for farmers as priority number one. If we look at the whole forestry programme, last year, farmers only planted 300 ha. That is obviously because of the whole concern around licensing and where that is as well.

The Deputy mentioned food security. We all have an obligation. This is where I come back to the balance in working with climate. Human nutrition is very important. It is in what we are discussing this evening as well in terms of having a proper diet and ensuring that we can continue to produce that food here in Ireland. It is absolutely a right. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it is absolutely sad to say that it took a war and an invasion for a wake-up call around food security. Last year, I spoke to farmers in North African countries. Their concern at the moment is the supply of food. Absolutely, the beef, dairy and cereal sectors are very important to our Irish economy. Last year, we exported €16.2 billion worth of food out of this country. My colleagues beside me from the transport industry are an integral part of that as well. I agree with Deputy Durkan's sentiments.