Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support amendment No. 1. I compliment the work of Senator Lombard and his engagement with the farming industry over the past number of weeks in trying to come up with a resolution between both sides. Something we know for sure is that the farming community want to work with the Department and with everyone to get the best result.

The amendment put forward involves only two extra words but they are really important. When we talking about a carbon budget, it seeks to include the words "minus removals". The agricultural industry plays a key role in that and it needs to be recognised.

When we talk, as a Government, about this Bill being put through, agreed and understood, why do we not include this as part of the Bill and strengthen the Bill on the back of that? That is the case the farming organisations have put forward. They have a number of other issues as well but this is predominantly one that we can get agreement on in respect of the Bill.

Senator Lombard talked about dairy farmers. We are tillage farmers but farming, whatever sector you are in, has a huge impact on society in rural areas. It has a huge role to play in terms of employment, both directly and indirectly, within a region. In my own town of Cahir, the amount of indirect employment that farming creates in the town is phenomenal. We need to support that.Part of that support involves working together on this Bill. In fairness, no sector is more eager to work with the Minister than the farming sector to ensure that this Bill is done right as it progresses. This is about supporting farming communities and small communities like mine in Tipperary. We are trying to encourage people to live in rural Ireland and to live in small towns and villages there. It is a central aspect of the Our Rural Future policy launched by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Humphreys, some time ago. Farming, and this Bill on the back of farming, plays a key role in that regard. This is about supporting those families and communities. Therefore, I support this amendment and I hope the Minister can accept it. Many of us have come together to try to work with the IFA and the farming community. The president of the IFA is Tim Cullinan, a fellow Tipperary man. I worked with Imelda Walsh and the north Tipperary IFA and with Erica O’Keeffe and south Tipperary IFA. All those people said that they want to work with the Minister on this Bill as it progresses. However, this aspect is a key requirement. He has given reassurances that this element will happen anyway, but it is important to have it in writing. Therefore, I support the amendment.