With the future of Irish agriculture and food production on the line, debate is raging as to possible outcomes. After the Coalition agreed on a 25% reduction in carbon emissions for the sector after months of negotiation, the Labour Party has called for a Citizens’ Assembly on the matter.
While the Greens had pushed for a 30% cut, Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue, of Fianna Fáil, was not happy to go beyond 22%.
In Cork East Labour TD Seán Sherlock’s view, there is a need to “rethink” farming to meet potential targets. “Labour is very clear that every sector will have to play a fair share in cutting emissions in order to achieve the overall 51% reduction enshrined in our climate legislation. The evidence is clear: the cuts that will have to be made across the agriculture sector will have to be at the higher end of the scale proposed – closer to 30% than 22%. In reaching these targets it can’t be felt by any one sector that the targets are being foisted on them.”
He added that farmers needed special support programmes for households and families, and suggested that non-governmental organisations, environment, industry, business, agriculture and civil society representative groups should discuss solutions.
“We have seen the benefits of having these hard conversations with each other in the past. A Citizens’ Assembly on the future of agriculture in Ireland would achieve this for all,” he said.