Green Party red line 'impossible' – Naughten

“There is a bloc of Independent TDs there that is as large or larger than the Green Party that would have a very similar outlook and perspective on things,” says Denis Naughten. “We might focus on different aspects of the work of government, but no-one among that group would fundamentally differ on our broad political priorities.”

I have to say that the regional group did say to Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin that we wanted to be involved in a Government that had the ability and the capacity to last for five years. We saw that as including two of those three larger political parties, one of the smaller parties (Green Party, Social Democrats or Labour) along with ourselves. Each of the component parts have less leverage if there are four groups rather than three.”

Naughten speaks from experience of coalition. After 19 years in opposition, first in Fine Gael and since 2011 as an Independent, he was part of the last coalition, serving as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. His resignation following a controversy involving the broadband tender process was well-documented, but his experience, coupled with that as a previous Fine Gael Agriculture spokesperson, leaves him uniquely positioned to assess the Green Party’s demand for a 7% reduction in emissions every year for the lifetime of the next Government.

“I dealt at the coal face with Green Party members as a minister. The most important skill for any politician is the ability to compromise. You are never going to get everything you want, give and take is essential. The reality is, we’re going to be stuck with coalitions for the foreseeable future.”

Naughten finds it hard to see how the “red line” of 7% can be achieved. “Is it 7% of all emissions, or 7% of the emissions that are counted nationally, (the so-called “non ETS” emissions, essentially agriculture, transport, and domestic emissions).

“If we were to slaughter every farm animal, not just cattle, but sheep, pigs and poultry as well, we would fall short of 7%. If we parked every privately owned car, that would only achieve the 7% target for 14 months. It is impossible.

“I also question whether this target takes into account the fact that methane coming from livestock needs to be treated very differently to fossil fuels. If any such targets were set in stone as national targets, it could dramatically affect payments to farmers, including both CAP payments and national aid. It would also be hard to see how a minister for agriculture could get a mandate to go to Brussels for an extension of the nitrates derogation. What really frustrates me is this is merely shifting the deckchairs on the Titanic.

“If we shut down the Irish beef exporting industry and reduce the national herd by 90% that beef supply is now going to come from South America, with an emissions profile up to 35 times higher.

“We need an EU-wide profile for agriculture, which will allow our relative efficiency to be recognised.

“I accept that agriculture has more work to do in terms of its emissions profile. Some of that can be done quite easily. The Smart Farming initiative, which I was involved in as minister, is an example. Farmers can, on average, reduce their output costs by €8,500 with a 10% reduction in emissions. This would have global significance as an example of simple adaptation of best practice.”

Naughten is optimistic for the future, and sees an opportunity to forge a new economy out of our current difficulties. “There’s no point in pretending we aren’t facing difficult times, but we should be positive.”

He points to micro-generation of power, particularly on farms, as having a role to play.

“We can transform the economy, to have it working for the people,” he says.

“Agriculture and the rural economy will have to be a more integral part of that economy.”