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Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said “in Agriculture we are acutely conscious of our obligation in attempting to address our carbon footprint. On the dairy side we are amongst the most efficient producers of dairy on the planet, we are the fifth most carbon-efficient beef producer in Europe. Through the RDP, we have the BDGP which aims to further lighten our carbon footprint.
"The Paris accord on climate change commits to reducing our carbon footprint but not to compromise our food production.
"Our Origin Green programme for producers involves not just a nice little sticker to put on your product but an internationally audited programme.
"I don’t think that the punitive taxation approach would be helpful in terms of reaching our potential as a food-producing island in a sustainable way.”
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Climate Action and Environment Minister Denis Naughten, speaking to Shannonside FM, said: “I would be quite concerned in relation to the comments that have come from the Citizens’ Assembly ... The farming community have engaged with my Department through [the IFA’s] Smart Farming [initiative] where farmers can reduce their overall carbon emissions by 10% while at the same time saving about €8,700 on average.”
Sinn Féin Agriculture spokesperson Martin Kenny said: “There is no evidence to suggest that the introduction of carbon taxes reduces carbon emissions. It will, however, have a serious impact on the price of food for consumers in shops.
“To suggest that we need to move away from beef production to an alternative farming practice like forestry is completely ludicrous. The notion that we should move to an alternative farming practice like forestry would have a devastating effect on the Irish economy.”
ICSA president Paddy Kent said the decision was “a lamentable example of group think emerging from a part-time weekend talk shop”. He said it seemed “the findings have been orchestrated by the way the debate has been framed and the questions put”.
ICMSA president John Comer said if people are serious about climate change it needs to be examined at a global rather than country level.
“Food production should be encouraged in those areas that can carbon-efficiently produce it – this means Ireland. If the proposals became reality “food production would simply move to other countries that are less efficient from a carbon perspective”.
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