Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

My apologies. I thank the Rural Independent Group for putting forward this important motion. There is a lot of talk about cattle culls at the moment. I am sure the Department will say it has no immediate plans for a cattle cull. Regardless of whether it has immediate plans in that regard, it is something that will stay on the agenda. I accept it is probably not part of the agenda of either of the two parties represented by the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, who are present. It is, however, something that is constantly being discussed in the media. It is regularly discussed in The Guardianand it features in the Irish media as well. It is not the media that is dreaming this up. It is very much reflective of a current of thought that we need to reduce dairy and overall cattle numbers. There is a lot of scientific debate in that regard.

As previous speakers stated, there is the big risk of displacement. There are undoubtedly carbon emissions linked to the production of milk in Ireland but we can produce dairy produce at a lower level of carbon emissions than in other countries. I appreciate there is an advertising campaign on this which has proved controversial. There is a ready market for that product. The big danger is that if we reduce dairy numbers, that market will be filled from elsewhere and that will result in greater carbon emissions rather than fewer. Obviously it would reduce carbon emissions in Ireland, but global warming and carbon emissions are not a uniquely Irish problem. We have to play our part but they are not a uniquely Irish problem. That needs to be dealt with.

Leaving that aside, an interesting and persuasive analysis on the additional cost of processing if current milk output is reduced was published in the Irish Farmers' Journal this week. There is a considerable increase in cost and that will have to borne by producers or consumers or, most likely, both. The reality is that producers are not in a position to bear any greater cost, at least not on the basis of this year's prices, because they are very close to operating at the cost of production. There is no doubt the dairy sector was highly profitable for several years but it has not been highly profitable this year. That will inevitably result in greater costs for consumers. That is even leaving aside the effect of the same number of people seeking to buy a particular product but the supply of that product being reduced.

The environmental lobby states that farmers have to be more honest and that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has to be more honest with people regarding the impact of agricultural production on the environment. The environmental groups have to be far more honest with people regarding the effect the policies they are advocating will have on ordinary consumers, the cost of their shopping and, indeed, food security going forward. I find it very difficult to believe the claims of those who advocate moving completely to a plant-based diet that we can produce enough plant-based food, with adequate protein sources and so on, to feed the world on the amount of land that is currently dedicated to agricultural production. I do not find that credible. There is an underlying assumption that all the land that is used for agricultural production, including livestock production, is somehow suitable for producing cereals and so on, but that is simply not the case. There is a reason large amounts of the marginal land in Ireland is used for beef production, sucklers, lamb production and so on. Good luck growing wheat or barley on much of that land. I accept that there is an absolute need for greater diversity. There was greater diversity of food production in Ireland 20 years ago or 30 years ago, with a strong horticulture sector and a greater level of self-sufficiency regarding cereals and so on. We need to move back to that, but to say we can somehow abandon livestock production in the world or in Ireland is fantasy. Those who are advocating for that need to be far more honest with people.

One of the effects of the Common Agricultural Policy has been a significant increase in food production. That is what it was designed to do to ensure food security. Its main goal has now been switched from food security to it being an environmental benefit. That is all well and good; I do not necessarily have a problem with it once farmers are not being penalised. Inevitably, reducing the number of farmers, driving small family farms out of existence and moving towards the model they have in North America is not beneficial to anybody. It is not beneficial to farm families, who are being driven off the land by the economic policies that were pursued there through several decades, but it is not good for consumers either. There is a much smaller number of producers who are in a much better position to dictate price. It might be bad for the likes of Larry Goodman and the beef processors. We see what they are currently doing with prices. Ultimately, it is bad for consumers and food safety but it is also very bad for the environment. It is easy to have a reactionary policy such as calling for a cull on cows.

I have no problem with ensuring we meet our nitrates obligations. It is essential that we do so. We cannot continue with the water table being destroyed and damaged in the way that is currently happening. That is not sustainable. Agriculture is being scapegoated to a certain extent. It is certainly not the only contributor to that problem. That is evident in areas of east County Clare that are predominantly affected by forestry. We need to look after the environment and the water table and meet our nitrates obligations. The latter is not just the obligation of livestock producers, but also of the forestry sector and, in particular, the State forestry sector, including Coillte, which seems to get away with environmental murder, to use a pun. It seems to be held to different standards from farmers.

We need to be realistic about how we are going to feed the world population and sustain rural Ireland and the best way of doing that. Knee-jerk reactions calling for culls is not the way to achieve it. I very much thank the Rural Independent Group. I apologise for attributing the motion to another group. I thank those in the Rural Independent Group for the opportunity to speak on this important issue. I support the motion.

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