Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy's question is predicated on emissions rising year on year and that is simply not the case. Between 1990 and 2015 greenhouse gas emissions from the agriculture sector reduced by 5.5%. It is important that the facts are correct.

Approximately 80% of all stored cattle manure in Ireland is produced as slurry, the remaining portion being a solid fraction or farmyard manure. For the majority of the country, the approximate storage period is 16 to 18 weeks. Virtually all pig manure is produced as slurry, while all poultry manure is of a solid or semi-solid composition. The quantities of livestock manures from farm holdings currently processed by way of treatment facilities such as anaerobic digestion, AD, is insignificant. This is influenced by the predominance of grazing systems and it not being cost effective to mobilise for the scale of commercial AD plants.

Methane accounts for approximately 22% of Ireland's greenhouse gas, GHG, emissions, of which approximately 12% of methane emissions in agriculture result from the storage and management of animal manures.

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Current research into reducing methane emissions is primarily focused on reducing emissions per unit product, that is to say, reducing emissions intensity. This research is primarily focused on improving productivity per animal and thus decoupling animal numbers from production. Most of this research is focused on developing economic breeding indices, extension of the grazing season, reducing beef finishing times and reducing total methane per animal as well as optimising beef and dairy animals. Many of these measures are currently in use or being commenced.

Currently the Environmental Protection Agency is funding a desk study to review our country-specific emissions factors and other parameters relevant to the estimation of methane emissions from livestock enteric fermentation and manure management. The purpose is to determine what changes are required to ensure improvements in farm efficiency that will mitigate methane captured in the livestock and manure methane sections of the inventory.

Carbon audits by our food agency, Bord Bia, are placing new emphasis on reduction in emissions intensity of beef and dairy produce. According to the Ireland's national inventory report published by the EPA in April 2017, methane is the second-most significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland. In 2015, emissions of methane decreased 10.4% on the 1990 level having increased progressively from 1990 to a peak in 1998.

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The national inventory report also stated that nitrous oxide emissions decreased by 16% from the 1990 level to 2015. Similar to methane, emissions of nitrous oxide increased during the 1990s to reach peak level in 1998, reflecting increased use of synthetic fertilisers and increased amounts of animal manures associated with increasing animal numbers during that period. Emissions of nitrous oxide subsequently show a clear downward trend following reductions in synthetic fertiliser use and organic nitrogen applications on land as a result of the effect of the CAP reform on animal numbers.

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