Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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I thank the delegates for their presentations. Mr. Carroll represents the meat industry and, interestingly, all of his presentation had to do with the farm. I know that the farming sector makes a major input into the meat industry, but I would like to hear what the meat industry is doing to address the issue of climate change. Farmers' representatives frequently appear before the committee. Only a couple of sentences in Mr. Carroll's presentation were about the meat industry. It would be interesting to tease out the issue further. What are the meat factories doing to address the issue of climate change? Are they using renewable energy resources and improving their production methods? Farmers are doing what they are doing and being forced to do so. What are the meat factories doing to reduce the level of carbon emissions?

A few weeks ago we heard a presentation on Origin Green. I note that some meat producers, Origin Green companies, were prosecuted for causing pollution. What is the value of Origin Green if that is the case and if producers are not contributing to improvements in their environmental performance?

In his presentation Mr. Carroll said Ireland's meet industry was the fifth most carbon-efficient in Europe, as if that was good. I do not think it is great because it puts the meat industry where it should be. I could be wrong and would like Mr. Carroll to expand somewhat on what he said and perhaps show me where I might be wrong. I do not thing it is that big a marketing tool. We are probably one of the major agricultural producers in Europe. Where do we stand compared with France and other agricultural producers?

What are the factories doing on carbon reduction? We have already heard what the farmers are doing.

Mr. Carter outlined some very positive things that can be done by both organisations to reduce carbon. I ask him to give examples of where they are being done at the moment? Are people waiting for a grant before doing so? Are there places we could go to see it? In the committee, we often hear of people waiting for money before anything is done, which can be a bit of a difficulty. Are these things taking place on the ground now and can we see it actually working?