Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the fact that the Minister and his officials have taken account of the amendments tabled, first, by Senator Paul Daly from Fianna Fáil, and also Senator Lombard, who is present. It is important that we show the farming and rural communities that we have a Minister who does take into account what must be taken into account when dealing with climate change.

I have had a number of calls from farmers in my constituency. I fought a lone battle in saying the Minister would take into consideration issues concerning the farming community that needed to be taken into consideration in the context of carbon count. It is extremely important that hedgerows and trees are taken into account. The Minister knows that from his own county. What it has done also is helped to keep the debate going in a positive way in rural communities. I accept there is more to be done, but we will get through it. It is only right and proper that we take into account the agricultural community, the vast majority of whom are more than willing to accept that some changes have to happen, but we must do it in a fair-minded way. What the Minister and his officials have done is very important for the entire debate going forward.