One of the most famous Irish political gaffes was made by former Minister and Commissioner Padraig Flynn during the 1990 presidential election.

He referred to Mary Robinson’s “new-found interest in her family”.

Whatever the intention of the remark, it backfired, with women incensed by any inference that having a career undermined their commitment to their family.

Why am I bringing this up now? I get the distinct sense that the elements of “rural Ireland” and environmental lobbies are digging in for a culture war.

In this war, there is an element of the “new-found” interest being an accusation made when environmental activists discuss rural and farming issues.

While the tone never descended into outright aggression, the undercurrent of antagonism was palpable

Similarly, statements around sustainability issues by farm leaders are often treated very dismissively by environmental spokespeople.

On Tuesday, Ian Lumley and Ruaidhri O’Boyle of An Taisce addressed the Oireachtas committee.

It was like they and the committee members were speaking in different tongues. While the tone never descended into outright aggression, the undercurrent of antagonism was palpable.

Greensplaining

Mansplaining is the phenomenon whereby men talk to women in a tone or using language that is condescending or patronising.

We may have to create parallel terms of “greensplaining” and “farmsplaining”.

An article written by Ray O’Foghlu was last weekend carried on thejournal.ie, an online platform sometimes confused with this publication.

It generated some chatter, being a well-written piece that highlighted the link between farmers’ basic payment money being cut on areas regarded as ineligible because of being overgrown and the practice of burning land to clear such growth. O’Foghlu said that this scheme needs revision.

The point was well made, but it was hardly the revelation of the third secret of Fatima. This very issue has been raised at every CAP, payments, or hill farming meeting that has taken place since 2005, when area payments came in.

The two sides may not agree, but more will be achieved if we genuinely respect each other

Yet some were suggesting the article should be carried in this week’s Irish Farmers Journal, presumably to educate farmers of this reality. Classic greensplaining.

The environmental lobby could do with being a little less patronising to farmers, and the farming community could react with less outrage to the questions being asked of it.

The two sides may not agree, but more will be achieved if we genuinely respect each other.

The hard reality is that a middle ground will have to be found.

An acknowledgment that the other side is fundamentally sincere in its intentions would go a long way to beginning a more positive engagement.