Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

During the fodder crisis in 2012-2013 a report was commissioned by Stop Climate Chaos which was carried out by Dr. Stephen Flood from the National University of Ireland Maynooth. He set out the research, which is clear. The research projected that there would be a 17% increase in winter rainfall and a 25% decrease in summer rainfall, particularly in the south east and on its coast, because of climate change. It suggested that would have a potential cost of €2 billion for the agriculture industry. That would dwarf the €1.5 billion gain expected from Harvest 2020, which led into Food Wise 2025. That is what is happening. It is not a surprise and it is not unexpected; it is exactly what the scientists said would occur. We have to react to it for climate emissions reasons, but also for the sake of farming. We have been whipping farmers towards every greater numbers, ever more intense practices and ever larger herds and then this summer we find, as various Deputies have said, that the livestock are eating the first crop of silage. Please God there will be a second crop but at the moment one would not bet on it. What are they going to do in the autumn and winter? They are the patsies. They are the guys and women who are at the sharp end in respect of this processing industry. The likes of Larry Goodman are not going to have a hard winter, but the guys on the front line who lean on this and who are paying for everything are the ones getting caught out in this squeeze. We should change plan and change strategy for the sake of Irish farmers.

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