Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the witnesses for their attendance, their comprehensive oral presentations and the background presentations which they submitted to the committee in advance of the meeting. The fact that this is the third or fourth of these meetings demonstrates that the committee very much understands that climate change and how we deal with it must be a key part of agriculture in the future. The farming community is very much at one on that objective.

Dr. Crowe spoke first and one of his opening comments was that there must be change but that such change must also work for farmers. We must proceed according to that ethos and principle. We must also recognise that there is a tremendous tradition of agriculture and agricultural produce in this country. In terms of traceability and standards, we have an exceptional agricultural product and that is why we are so successful in terms of exports, production and reputation. That will increasingly have to be put alongside sustainability and will increasingly be demanded by the markets to the same extent that our environment requires us to produce in a carbon-friendly manner.

I would be interested in the perspective of witnesses in respect of Food Wise 2025, which sets very ambitious but achievable targets in regard to agricultural production, and whether they believe we should continue to achieve those objectives or push to do so. Although we are becoming more efficient, the expansion of production contributes to our overall footprint. I think we should follow the targets set out in Food Wise 2025 but I would be interested in hearing the witnesses' perspectives in that regard.

In terms of climate, this country is very suited to food production, in particular grass-based food production, which puts us in a situation whereby we have a very good story to tell. The evidence indicates that we can also produce at a competitive advantage from a sustainability point of view compared to other countries in the global market.

Some other European Union countries face challenges similar to those pertaining in Ireland. They do not have as high a percentage of their overall emissions based in agriculture as does Ireland but they are trying to address climate change. I would be interested in the witnesses' views on how other EU countries are tackling this issue and whether there are any lessons for us in that regard.

The Citizens' Assembly held a module on this issue, although it did not give it a massive amount of time. One of its recommendations was for the imposition of a carbon tax. I do not believe that is the way to go but I would be interested in the views of the witnesses in that regard.

As regards the marine, Dr. Heffernan indicated our cod and haddock stocks are reducing. According to the research, how much of that is attributable to climate change as opposed to fishing levels? In view of the fact that under the Common Fisheries Policy catches by fleets from EU countries are being managed and stocks seem to be responding to that, how much of an impact on stocks does Dr. Heffernan believe the temperature increase is having?