THE GOVERNMENT has ruled out cutting Irish livestock numbers to reduce carbon emissions. Minister of State for Agriculture Seán Connick told the Dáil there were “compelling environmental and economic reasons” why such a reduction could not be justified.

It would be counterproductive because Ireland was a leading beef and dairy produce exporter and any Irish shortfall would be replaced with produce from other countries “with far less sustainable farming systems”, resulting in increased emissions.

Ireland has high greenhouse gas levels linked to livestock emissions, but the Minister said the agriculture sector would “continue to play a significant role in reducing national greenhouse gas emissions”. The target was to keep emissions at 13 per cent above the 1990 levels until 2012, but it was estimated they would be 8.5 per cent below 1990 levels.

He was “confident” national and international research would “yield new effective, measurable and verifiable means to offset greenhouse gas emissions from the sector”. More than 150,000 people are directly employed in the industry, which accounts for 10 per cent of total exports.

Global food demands will rise by 70 per cent with population increase and “it would be wrong to forgo these lucrative export opportunities for a short-term gain in terms of national emissions reductions targets”, Mr Connick said.

Andrew Doyle (FG, Wicklow) said the Minister was showing “common sense” because “there has been a simplistic approach by some who suggest that by reducing agriculture in this country, one can deal simply with our carbon emissions”.