Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not make cheap pot shots. I will not get any headlines for this - the Minister need not worry about that – and I am not even looking for them. The Minister did not answer my question on anaerobic digestion plants. Is it possible that there are more in the Six Counties than in the Twenty-six Counties? Why is that the case? Why are we not doing more in that area?

Since 2002, on a euro per inhabitant basis Ireland has had the highest level of spending on research and development in the agriculture sector compared to any other country in the EU 28.

I raised a question about research showing that adding 2% dried seaweed to the cow diet could make cattle healthier, more fertile and reduce methane emission by a considerable proportion. The Minister stated that the Department continues to invest and engage with research initiatives in this area. However, in September I put in a freedom of information request to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, the EPA and Bord Bia about research in this area. They had nothing in this area.

Are we not looking at seaweed? If not, why not? Is the research wrong? Am I wrong on the seaweed issue?

See this speech in context