Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We need to put things into context. In the past seven or eight years, 400,000 more people are working in Ireland. If we put wings on them, we will have a bigger carbon footprint. We have to make sure whatever measures are introduced do not hit people the wrong way, especially those from the poorer sections of our community. Many things can be done to help income. Unfortunately the dairy sector has grown in parts of the country. The Department's plan was to get rid of the beef industry because it is on its knees and to try to plant the west of Ireland. If Fine Gael continues on the road of previous Governments of giving big landlord farmers €140,000 and €150,000 in CAP funding and giving small farmers €3,000 or €4,000, it will destroy the west of Ireland. We have asked for somebody to come forward. I would like to talk to the people who do the figures. I ask the Minister to facilitate it. Many farmers around the country have many trees that are not even accounted for. A tree audit needs to be done to make sure we are not missing out. We are not doing what we need to do.

The Government, like previous Governments, is aiding and abetting feedlots around the country, some of them with 35,000 cattle and absolutely no land to back it up. One always had at least an acre of land for an animal. We had a Bill on microgeneration. There has been push-back on it.

I listen to people who talk about the environment, global warming and climate change. Last weekend about 400 people attended an event. I checked the figures for air travel. Will we look at the idea of whether we need to go on planes all the time? How much carbon are they creating? There seems to be a focus on rural Ireland and a suggestion that it is the polluter of the world. Whether people like it or not, they will have to eat meat and vegetables will be produced. Rural Ireland will need to survive. Rural Ireland is doing its part. Much can be done through Government initiatives. We talked about biogas and anaerobic digesters. A drying system would help save water. When planning permission is submitted, environmentalists object. For years we have listened to the debate about importing €6 billion worth of fossil fuels. The reality is we were told Bord na Móna is closing down. What will we do? We will bring biomass in from Africa, Brazil and other countries. Evaluation is required. If one considers the situation concerning nitrates allowances, most farmers use only 60% to 70% of their nitrates allowance. The big barons are given derogations. A two-pronged approach is required. It is doing harm to the family farm. We will solve nothing if we do not concentrate on the traditionally farmed family farm and forget about landlordism, which is where we are headed, aided and abetted by Government incentives. The west of Ireland will not become the dumping ground for the carbon of the country.

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