Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

What will be said today will be somewhat similar to what was said here last week about biodiversity. It goes without saying that all the indicators on biodiversity and climate change have been going in the absolute wrong direction for a considerable amount of time. I get that kind words and saying the right thing in here will not move the indicators in the right way. One of the most frightening statistics I have heard is that 1 million species are facing extinction. Whatever this may tell or reek of, it is certainly not sustainability. We are talking about the continuity of life as we know it. Regardless of whether we are talking about a single ecosystem and all the associated interconnections or about the many ecosystems that make up our world, we are in severe danger. We know action is required. The big question concerns what this action should be and how it should be taken.

We are aware of the difficulties that have existed with the nature restoration law. We are aware of the public discourse on it and have noted the difficulties that exist, even today. Let us be absolutely clear: nobody has ever put legislation together or a plan in place that was absolutely perfect straightaway. Therefore, we need to consider the best parts of the measure and what can be salvaged in time. Does it play a part? Definitely.

With regard to just transition, other than hearing the term "just transition" I am not very sure I have seen it in many places. We need to see pathways, not cliff edges. These are terms that are used quite often in here but we really have to offer people pathways, not just talk about the terms. I have often used the term "just transition", as have many others, but I do not believe there has been sufficient engagement with farmers or rural communities. Not enough work has been done with them. Claims will be made across the board that there has been a genuine failure of communications regarding what constitutes the nature restoration law and what it will look like when we are dealing with it. Again, the piece missing across the board is genuine engagement. Such engagement would allow us to make sure, in examining this legislation, that we can see what is needed and what constitutes a fit-for-purpose system. There is an opportunity to deal with this by amendment nearly before it reaches the environmental committee in Europe and as it makes its journey through it and beyond.

Let us talk about who will be affected by the changes that need to be made. We hear about them at IFA meetings, in the public discourse and sometimes in the discourse in this place. The fact is that a great many farmers are open to change and to the fact that we are in a changing world where action is definitely needed. However, I am not sure we are having the appropriate engagement and communication to ensure we can actually put an appropriate plan in place. That is the issue I see.

It is often said that people went into dairy farming, in particular, on the basis of its being where the incentives were. I would say there was a hell of a lot more engagement than one might think because I am well aware of farmers who were contacted by agricultural advisers who had been contacted by people connected to State agencies and the Department asking whether they knew of any farmers, including young farmers, who would be interested in being dairy farmers. That is what happened. There were incentives and it made logical sense from a business point of view to do what was done. Therefore, that is where farmers went. Therefore, I do not believe it is beyond us to address this. There is a considerable number of farmers whom it will suit to engage in particular strategies or projects, so it is a matter of ensuring we have fit-for-purpose grant schemes and systems, without all the problems.

I remember talking here last year about Tidy Towns and biodiversity projects. Those concerned will talk to one about the issues they have in getting grant funding and the mad bureaucracy that exists. These are the sorts of issues we need to deal with. We know action needs to be taken in relation to the climate action plan but we need a genuine conversation on whether we are going to have a nature restoration fund, what it will look like and who the payments will be made to. We need to put the framework in place.

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