Dáil debates
Thursday, 12 December 2019
Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation
12:50 pm
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source
We have responded positively to the announcements of a new EU green deal. It will require a response from every EU member state that is more ambitious than anything we have planned for, but that is the way the world is going and we need to follow that. Having said that, rural Ireland and agriculture need to transition in the context of the climate challenge, but can do so and grow and expand at the same time. That is our current agricultural policy and it will continue to be. Ireland has an obligation to be a leader in this area in the EU, given the size of the agricultural sector versus other sectors from an emissions perspective in our economy, as the Deputy will know better than most, in light of the Ministry he previously held. We need to bring about change but we need to work with farmers to do so. That will be a big part of the next round of the CAP negotiation.
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