Farming is bound to feature when Government talks begin between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party on Thursday.

On Tuesday evening, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael gave a written commitment that they will introduce measures to bring about the 7% emissions reductions demanded by the Greens.

Just what role farming will play in those commitments is the subject of fairly intense debate.

The IFA said that “it was time to back, not attack farming and food production”, highlighting Ireland’s relative efficiency in food production. This chimed with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin’s statement on RTE’s Prime Time that “agriculture may be looked at on a European-wide basis. We have one of the most efficient food production systems. Teagasc has laid out a roadmap ... and Irish agriculture hasn’t been behind the door in terms of coming forward with more effective and efficient means of food production.”

Tánaiste

Tánaiste Simon Coveney also spoke out.

“Farming can’t be decimated for the Green Party’s 7% demand,” he said, following the publication of senior civil servant Robert Watt’s view that a “negligable” 5% cut in the national herd was appropriate.

A minority of Green Party TDs, including deputy leader Catherine Martin, opposed the government talks and the Young Green’s chair spoke of a “massive lack of trust” in the two traditional parties of government, so a two-thirds majority of support by Green Party members remains a big ask.

At the opposite end of the potential coalition’s political spectrum, Fianna Fáil’s Donegal councillors openly opposed their party entering dialogue with the Greens.

The aim is to complete negotiations by the end of May, with postal votes to party members concluding within a couple of weeks.