Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply.

As I stated from the outset, we need to set these targets, but these have to be achievable and tangible targets that the Departments can buy into and also have an overall measure to get to where we want to get to. As the Minister stated, we will be 95% behind. We are coming from a low base.

Like some of my colleagues here, I sit on the Joint Committee on Climate Action. The committee has toured where efficiencies can be made.

We also must be mindful when making decisions on where we need to go that we have set up the alternatives for these particular industries. Agriculture is one of our major industries and perhaps the major natural resource of the country. When we approach this issue, I hear much in the debate that we must look at viable alternatives for this sector to be able to help those involved to move and also be mindful that the agricultural sector is the most carbon efficient in the EU from a dairy perspective. In beef, it is in the top five. Production must be kept where it is because the demand is there and we do not want production to move to off-shore places that are not as carbon efficient. We must be mindful of all these matters.

As I have said to the Minister previously, communication and a communication strategy will be key in implementing this as well. I would like to know the communication trajectory in relation to this.

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