Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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I thank the delegates for their presentations. I have two questions about Brexit and climate change.

Ms McCarthy has said the feedback from producers is positive in maintaining supply following Brexit. However, the feedback does not account for tariffs, controls and so on, which will impact on businesses. I wonder about the possibility of developing alternative markets. Realistically, France and other countries in continental Europe are the alternatives, but the quality and standard of products are totally different. For example, there is no market for cheddar cheese other than England. How much work is being done to make this change? It will probably have to happen. Ms McCarthy has said the United Kingdom accounts for 35% of our trade. Which country accounts for the next highest percentage?

Ms McCarthy has explained how Origin Green works, but climate change and sustainability were dealt with in a different section of the presentation, whereas they should have been discussed with Origin Green. Origin Green and climate change policy should provide protection for the food sector, but do they? Why do they make up two sections of the presentation?

How is climate change feeding into Origin Green? I think that is vitally important. Is Origin Green just a marketing tool rather than an effective tool that will make a difference to producers and to this country's climate footprint? It is vital for Irish agriculture to recognise that climate change is an issue. While recognising that it is an issue, we can develop our markets in a manner that counteracts it in some way. We can that accept there are high emissions in this sector and attempt to counteract that by trying to reduce them in another sector. At least we should be able to say it and do it. That is very important. I am aware that some companies that previously had Origin Green marks were challenged by the Environmental Protection Agency for reasons associated with pollution, etc. How does that square with the whole Origin Green project and with climate change as well?