Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I support Deputy Cahill's call for opening allotments in urban areas. These fulfil an essential function regarding food production and provide an outlet for urban dwellers to carry out physical exercise in a safe and socially distant way, while also allowing positive interaction within communities.

The Covid-19 health crisis and the associated financial crisis have focused the minds of many worldwide on the importance of food security and the agrifood sector, which employs 173,000 people in this country. The United Nations has warned that while parts of the world are on the brink of a hunger pandemic, some countries are dumping milk due to a breakdown in supply lines. Irish farmers, meanwhile, are suffering significant financial losses, especially in the beef and dairy sectors. The Covid-19 crisis is affecting the agriculture sector and we must ensure we provide support to farmers.

Farmers are not just producers of food. They have a vital role to play as environmental stewards in areas such as water quality, biodiversity and climate mitigation and adaptation. Without the co-operation of farmers, Ireland cannot reach its targets of cutting emissions in line with the Paris Agreement. We need to engage with farmers and other stakeholders to review and analyse the full range of land diversification options, from horticultural production, protein crop production and organic farming to afforestation and agroforestry. Most of all, we must be guided by science. The science states we must reduce emissions to keep our planet from warming dangerously. We must ensure we listen to scientific advice to ensure every sector plays its part, while ensuring no sector is targeted unfairly.

To that end, I ask the Minister if he is aware that research by Teagasc has shown that multi-species grass swards can reduce artificial fertiliser use by 50%, increase the ability of soil to resist leaching and increase biodiversity. Will the Minister commit his Department to funding further research with a view to promoting widespread movement away from perennial ryegrass swards and an associated reduction in the use of imported artificial fertiliser to help reduce the price of inputs for farmers as they face significant challenges as a result of the Covid-19 crisis?

Finally, I wish to ask the Minister a question about gorse fires. I have a concern about the pressure being placed on emergency services during the Covid-19 crisis. In common with my colleague, Deputy Matthews, I am concerned about recent gorse fires in Kildare and Wicklow. Does the Minister believe his Department is working closely enough with hill farmers in areas at risk of out-of-control gorse fires, and is there anything further that can be done to work in a co-operative manner with farmers to ensure good land management in hill areas at risk of gorse fires?

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