Dáil debates

Tuesday, 3 November 2020

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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32. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has an estimate of the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on greenhouse gas emissions during 2020; and if he envisages domestic policy initiatives to make Irish agriculture more climate resilient in 2021. [33394/20]

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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I have been nominated to discuss question No. 32 in place of Deputy Richard Bruton. I wish Deputy Cairns a happy birthday. The first hour and a half of it is gone but there are still 22 and a half hours to enjoy.

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I am still keeping Deputies to the time limit. They can give their birthday wishes afterwards.

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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My question is about the effect the Covid-19 pandemic has had on greenhouse gases so far this year. It would be an interesting area to learn more about in light of some of the accusations that are levelled at farmers about their contributions to greenhouse gases. I also want to know what opportunities could be pursued in 2021 for farmers.

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not have a estimate of the impact of Covid-19 on agricultural emissions in 2020. Responsibility for maintaining the national inventory for greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland rests with the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, operating under the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The EPA reports on emissions from all sectors of our economy on an annual basis and the metrics used in calculating greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors are based in EU legislation.

As the agriculture sector continues to develop and grow, it is important to ensure it does so within a framework of sustainability that also ensures our resilience in dealing with future changes in our climate. The programme for Government is very clear that we are committed to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030, which is a 51% reduction over the decade, and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. This 2050 target being set in law by the climate action Bill is to achieve a climate neutral economy that balances emissions and removals within the State by the end of 2050 and in subsequent years.

Reducing emissions, termed "mitigation", is a critical element in addressing climate change but the process of building resilience and adapting to the changes we are expecting to see in our climate, termed "adaptation", is equally important. With increases in average annual temperatures, significant decreases in summer rainfall and heavier rainfall events in winter and autumn months projected towards the middle of the century, it is essential we begin to take the necessary steps to build a strong and resilient sector.

In 2019, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine published a climate change sectoral adaptation plan for the agriculture, forestry and seafood sectors which sets out 16 actions and a number of sub-actions across the three sectors. This, our first statutory adaptation plan, is about preparing our systems to deal with the inevitable changes in climate by building resilience to the effects of climate change and weather related events in the agriculture, forestry and seafood sectors.

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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Covid-19 has been an absolute disaster on many fronts but, at the same time, we must see the times of lockdown as an interesting and potentially informative reference period for climate change and greenhouse gases. It is a chance to better inform ourselves about factors that contribute in both these areas. I encourage as much research as possible to be done into the year 2020 in Ireland and the effects on greenhouse gas levels, particularly during periods of lockdown. That could help to inform future policy.

I also encourage a far greater emphasis on the carrot, not the stick, in the agricultural sector.

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy.

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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We must work with farmers to show the opportunities that are available under new schemes-----

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy.

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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-----and to try to encourage greater take-up of more innovative schemes.

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's point is important and well made. It will be interesting to see the 2020 figures showing the impact of the pandemic across many aspects of the economy from an emissions point of view. I am not so sure that the impact on agriculture will be as significant when compared with other sectors of the economy because agricultural activity has not been affected as much as many other parts of the economy. It will, nonetheless, be interesting to see.

The Deputy also made a point about working with farmers and the agricultural sector in an incentivised way to influence behaviours and as an approach to policy. I agree with that; it will be my approach. It has to be about partnership. Farmers are willing to play their part in that respect and it is important that the rest of society acknowledges the important role that farmers play and ensure that they are rewarded with an income for the work they carry out.

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I will ignore the comment that the Deputy made earlier because it is late at night and I know we are all tired. I am sticking to the time limits for the benefit of all Deputies. Everybody is waiting on their turn.

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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What comment is the Leas-Cheann Comhairle referring to?

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Deputy has one minute.

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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What comment is the Leas-Cheann Comhairle referring to?

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Deputy made a comment under his breath to the effect that he had only gone over his time limit by a few seconds.

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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Where a Deputy is a second or two over-----

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I will count the time. The Deputy has one minute.

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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I know that but, with all due respect to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Deputy has one minute and the clock is running.

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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-----going a second or two over the time limit is not much of a misdemeanour. There has to be reasonable-----

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I ask the Deputy to co-operate. There are Deputies waiting and the time is running.

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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I know that but being interrupted having gone a second or two over the limit is a bit unreasonable.

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Deputy has 43 seconds.

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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I wish to be clear to the Minister, in my remaining time, that the reason 2020 will be an important reference year is that, as we know, many sectors shut down while agriculture kept going, more or less. Farmers take a lot of unfair flak at times about greenhouse gas emissions and their contribution to climate change. I am confident that 2020 will show that a lot of the flak that the sector takes is unjustified and unwarranted. That is why it is critical that thorough research is conducted into the impacts of the lockdown on other sectors.

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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We will be closely assessing these matters. I take the Deputy's point that the agricultural sector deserves recognition in this House for the tremendous work it continues to carry out to ensure the security of supply chains. The sector continues to prove its resilience and farmers never fail to step up to the mark in that regard. Farmers have shown themselves willing to take a partnership approach and live up to their responsibilities as policy evolves and changes. It is important that we do the same, going forward, to work and ensure that farmers get a fair income for the work they carry out.

Question No. 33 replied to with Written Answers.