FARMERS’ CONCERNS that agriculture output could be hit by the new climate change legislation must be addressed, Minister for the Environment John Gormley was told yesterday.
He had invited the Irish Farmers Association to meet him following its assertion proposed legislation could damage the sector’s plan for expansion to meet targets set down in the Harvest 2020 report.
Mr Gormley is expected to publish the Climate Change Bill today.
IFA president John Bryan told the Minister it was unacceptable any legislation would go beyond any obligations set out by the European Union, or would damage the potential of the Irish agricultural sector to expand production as set out in the report.
“The proposals must fully recognise the many positives around agriculture, especially our sustainable model of farming and the carbon sink in both our permanent pasture and our forestry,” said Mr Bryan after the meeting.
“These benefits and those accruing from bio-energy and other renewables must be allocated directly to agriculture as part of this legislation.”
He said: “Over the past 20 years emissions from milk and beef production have all declined in Ireland. We have a low carbon model of food production and Government policy must not undermine the sector’s ability to drive exports and jobs as part of our economic recovery,” he said.
Friends of the Earth accused the IFA of “scaremongering” in its comments and said the association was mistaken in saying it could damage Ireland’s economic recovery with “unrealistic reduction targets”.