Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I attended the same meeting with representatives of the IFA, and I met representatives of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association yesterday as well. Farming here will not thrive without nature being restored, and we cannot restore nature without farmers. The Government is negotiating a position in the EU to develop a stance on the nature restoration regulation that will work for Irish farming. This aspect is only one small part of what is a significant regulation. We want to do our best for Irish farming. We recognise that farmers will be voluntarily involved in any scheme eventually developed regarding a nature restoration plan. We want to ensure that this will work for Irish farming. We reiterated that at the meeting last night, and we will continue to do so. We need farmers to engage with us in a positive way to try to develop the best position for Ireland.

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