Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I had said about linking into Pillar 1 of the eco-scheme, the nitrates derogation and the need to, overall, reduce our emissions and how the witnesses see this contributing to that.

There has been some extensive discussion on the health and safety aspects of anaerobic digestion, but the emission element is very important. We know there are concerns about a large amount of methane leakage from biofuels. It has to be done very carefully in that regard. One of the measures with regard to the use or creation of fertiliser from what was formerly waste will involve measuring methane emissions. Will the witnesses comment on that? How do they see their work intersecting with a reduction in nitrates and a reduction, ultimately, in livestock? Livestock reduction is becoming pressing, as we have to look to the maximum food output from our land in the current crisis of food security, while also ensuring that we reduce the emissions. It may well be that there are more climate-efficient usages-----