Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome the Minister's acceptance last week of two significant amendments to the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021. I strongly support that. The reason is that the two amendments will ensure, for the first time, that the farming community will get due recognition when it comes to capturing and storing carbon on the land, be it in hedgerows, soil or the trees. This is potentially very positive from a farming perspective with regard to setting carbon targets, carbon budgeting and sectoral emissions thresholds later in the year. Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge the positive contribution the agricultural community can make to climate action because that will further encourage good behaviour in that regard.

While I accept that the principle is sound and the concept is good, I appreciate that there are still many questions. I have many questions, as do the agricultural community and farming families. I accept that the Minister may not have all the information to hand, but five questions jump out. How will the carbon sequestration be calculated and quantified? If the Minister could shed some light on that, it would be much appreciated. Second, which State agency will take the lead in coming up with such a formula that can be applied to various farms and regions? Third, how long will it take before a formula that can be applied can be agreed between various parties? Fourth, does any other country do something similar? Rather than us reinventing the wheel, could we take a template from another country and apply it or customise it here? Finally, how will individual farms and the farming community in general draw down these credits? Will there be financial incentives to assist them and will there be financial recognition for what they are doing from a climate point of view? I would be grateful if the Minister could respond to that. Again, I accept that he may not have all the information to hand relating to how it is going to be applied and implemented, but any light he could shed on the topic would be greatly appreciated.

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