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

We will engage in a detailed and respectful debate. We have to do this. It is important that we get the environmental and agricultural interests together. I believe we are allies, as I said at the conference the Minister held in Newbridge last week. However, there are certain things we stand by and I stand by John Sweeney when he says the 2.5 million additional animals have introduced to the country since Dr. Stephen Flood wrote his report are creating emissions that will be there for generations.

It is a question of the quantity released. Every country will face this issue. It is not as if we will face a challenge while Brazil, Mexico and so on will not. They will face a similar challenge. We must achieve net real reductions.

As to solutions, I believe in diversification. We only imported eight hours' worth of fodder in the most recent crisis but we are importing a large volume of soya and other meal. Our cattle are not completely grass fed. According to the statistics, we are significantly dependent on food imports to feed ourselves. One solution for Irish agriculture is to give people in that sector a much better price for meeting some of our food needs by diversifying our agricultural system as opposed to being overdependent on intensive cattle farming in particular, which is damaging our water supplies and is methane intensive. Nor can we feed our cattle. This triple whammy should form part of the argument.

See this speech in context