Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

I presume the Minister knows and agrees that we are in a climate and biodiversity crisis and yet the European Commission with the support of the Irish Government and the support of the three big parties in this Dáil has just agreed to delete, weaken or make voluntary several of the GAECs. The Minister listed some of them. They include minimising tillage to prevent soil erosion, ensuring minimal soil cover, crop rotation, areas to enhance biodiversity and protection of permanent grassland Natura 2000. Bird Life Europe has stated:

Today, the European Parliament paved the way for anti-democratic, anti-environmental, and above all, anti-farmers legislation, yielding to a powerful agri-business lobby that serves only a few. Food security, the future of farmers, and citizens were sacrificed for the sake of short-term profits and political calculations.

The Government seems to agree with that.

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