David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to refer to the director of Teagasc, the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority. Teagasc is going to be committed against this. The amount of gases emitted from the backsides of cows, for example, is an enormous problem. It may seem rather ludicrous but it is an enormous problem and agriculture generates a huge amount of carbon emissions. Teagasc is not going to be on the side of cutting back on emissions, it is going to argue for the greatest possible margin. I do not know the director of Teagasc and I have no direct animus against anybody who works for the authority. However, Teagasc has a professional responsibility to safeguard the agricultural and food development aspects of industry and it will do that. In view of the fact that I do not think they will be particularly friendly towards a purely environmental approach, I agree completely with Senator Barrett.