Results 2,821-2,840 of 12,224 for speaker:Paul Murphy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Paul Murphy: I believe the Minister is wrong that the 25% reduction, which is itself inadequate, will be achievable without reducing the total volume of meat and dairy production. Related to that, what is the Minister’s opinion of the so-called Dublin declaration, which basically suggested that the production of meat and so on could be a positive for the environment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Paul Murphy: Does the Minister believe that the production of meat is beneficial to the environment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Paul Murphy: The Dublin Declaration of Scientists on the Societal Role of Livestock claimed that the production of meat was beneficial to the environment. It is not clear whether the Minister is saying it is not beneficial but it is important for food production and, therefore, we have to take a hit on the environment or whether he is endorsing the claim that meat production is beneficial to the environment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Paul Murphy: Does the Minister believe it was appropriate for public money, through Teagasc, to be used to host this conference, which resulted in The Dublin Declaration of Scientists on the Societal Role of Livestock? Some €45,000 of public money was spent on what was effectively an exercise in climate denial.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Paul Murphy: The Minister sees no parallel between what the meat industry, which was behind the Dublin declaration, was doing and the climate denialism of the fossil fuel industry.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Paul Murphy: I do not take seriously the Minister’s claim that he is serious about reducing emissions by 25% when he is endorsing the spending of public money on a climate denialist exercise. Does he accept that the meat industry was behind the Dublin declaration?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Paul Murphy: I am a bit taken aback that the Minister did not at least distance himself from it. Does the Minister accept the new research that suggests the potential for soil carbon sequestration on grasslands is much lower, and uncertain at best, compared with what was set out in previous research? Will he ensure that no carbon farming scheme is permitted to operate in Ireland on the basis of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Paul Murphy: Presumably, the Minister is aware of recent figures from his Department suggesting that the emissions from peatland forestry were underestimated and, as a consequence, Irish forests are set to become a source of carbon rather than a carbon sink in the 26 years before 2050 because they were planted on peatlands. How does the Minister respond to that information? Does he accept that there has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Paul Murphy: I will return to the original point that I discussed with the Minister, which is agricultural emissions being correlated with the total volume of meat and dairy output. The Minister argues that we can at least maintain the same size of meat and dairy output, or even increase that, yet still achieve our targets. Let us hope that he is right if that is the chosen policy. Let us say that he...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Paul Murphy: Have an analysis been done of the distribution of emissions, in other words, what percentage of farmers and agrifood companies are responsible for what percentage of emissions? It is not the case that 1% of farmers are responsible for 1% of emissions. It would presumably be distributed quite unequally.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Paul Murphy: Will the Minister provide that data in a written note afterwards, stating, for example, that the biggest 10% of farmers are responsible for a certain amount of carbon emissions, to get a picture of that? I think the average small farmer does not have a high degree of responsibility for carbon emissions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Paul Murphy: The big farms that we have are responsible for a disproportionate number-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Paul Murphy: Let us see the figures to back up that assertion. Citing averages does not tell us anything about distribution. Will the Department consider launching a campaign encouraging people to consume a more plant-based diet?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Paul Murphy: I am not a vegetarian or vegan myself but I presume the Minister agrees that vegetarian or vegan diets produce significantly lower carbon emissions than do more meat-based diets. That is just scientific fact.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Paul Murphy: Come on, Minister. Do you accept the facts about vegetarian and vegan diets?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Paul Murphy: The Department has no problem with Bord Bia promoting the consumption of dairy and meat. I do no see why the Department cannot promote plant-based diets. That would align with the Minister's targets under the climate action plan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Paul Murphy: It is possible to have a perfectly balanced diet without consuming any dairy and meat.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Paul Murphy: I will start on the Minister’s point that this can be done. I agree 100% that it can be done. I am not a climate doom-monger. It think it is possible. It is important not to prettify what is actually happening, however. If we want to do it, we have to deal with the actual reality and the actual reality is that in every single sector we are off track. If we continue with the plan...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Paul Murphy: I do not deny the issue with planning, administration, etc. However, the biggest obstacle we face lies with vested interests, those who profit from the current model, including agribusiness which the Minister before us today is obviously not responsible for. However, he is responsible for the big tech sector and specifically energy usage by data centres. They currently use 18% of our...