Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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There is further work that every sector will have to do. I think the Leas-Chathaoirleach is right when he says that agriculture – the farmers, the farming organisations and the industry - is taking this seriously . If one is trading on the Origin Green brand and not real about it, it will not work. Agriculture’s emissions are complicated. There is actually a relatively low amount of carbon. Most of it is either methane or nitrous oxides coming from fertilisers and so on. I refer to whether we can retain the 30% reduction in fertiliser use - mainly due to the high price of fertilisers, in all truth – and go further. Farmers are learning. We were overapplying fertiliser and there are better alternatives. If you switch to a mixed-sward grass system, you can reduce your fertiliser use by 70% or 80% and get a better output with regard to feeding your animals. I think agriculture is starting to get that.