Last week’s joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture meeting with An Taisce was some shambles. If politicians ever wonder why they don’t always enjoy public support, they should look at the recording. I tuned in expecting a constructive discussion focused on the Climate Action Bill. Instead we learned nothing new from anybody.

Although unavoidable, the event was not helped by the fact participants were dotted all over the place due to COVID-19 restrictions.

As with all recent committee meetings, the chair Jackie Cahill TD was a lone figure in the committee meeting room trying to conduct proceedings via video link. The two “witnesses” were An Taisce’s Ruaidhri O’Boyle and Ian Lumley.

In my view, the questions were hostile and off script from grandstanding politicians. The answers were pretty bland and predictable too.

They also failed to suggest any real tangible solutions to agri emissions

To be fair to the witnesses, there were simply no answers to some of the closed and unrelated questions put to them. A clear and concise explanation from An Taisce, as to their vision for the viable future of farming, was not delivered by their representatives. They also failed to suggest any real tangible solutions to agri emissions. But that is where we are with this most divisive and personalised issue right now.

The An Taisce/Glanbia planning row is the epitome of the general suspicion and bitterness between Irish agriculture inc and environmental lobby groups. It’s full of whataboutery and standing firm. The result is ordinary farmers on the ground once again carrying the can. And where are the policies and incentives to support and direct them?

As radical as it may seem, could I suggest we look to the model which brought peace to Northern Ireland?

Meanwhile, another UN report has just been published reinforcing the need to reduce methane emissions to protect the planet. But farm groups and the environmental pillar are too busy firing brickbats in a game of one-upmanship to deal with its implications logically together.

So where do we go from here? As radical as it may seem, could I suggest we look to the model which brought peace to Northern Ireland? People need to get off their high horses and come together to fight the common enemy which is climate change.

When it comes to Northern Irish politics, there isn’t a generic handbook to deal with its bespoke issues. Similarly, Ireland is unique when it comes to farming for a myriad of complex reasons. So reducing agri emissions requires a more sensitive and thought out approach.

Appoint a mediator to invite the key stakeholders around the table

The statistics and science proves beyond doubt that farm practice needs to change. But it certainly won’t happen in time if farmers feel they are being browbeaten in the process.

Appoint a mediator to invite the key stakeholders around the table. Set a short time frame. Shut the door and get to work on agreeing a model of farming which is sound economically, environmentally and socially built on reality and not partisan ideology. A parity of esteem needs to apply to a clean environment and safe viable food production. Without both, we are all doomed.

Tip toeing

Have you noticed the new underhand way people try to get a handle on what age you are by asking you when you are due to get the vaccine?