Culling the national herd
The Government has committed to not reducing the national herd therefore, it is time to invest in a real plan to reduce emissions in the sectors where, unlike agriculture, emissions have increased over the past 50 years.
Government Did Not Apply To EU Biomethane Fund
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan has confirmed that the Government did not apply to a European fund aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing dependence on Russian fossil fuels through the sustainable development of biomethane production.
Agricultural Emissions Cuts
The vilification of farmers by those who could not keep a hen or grow a potato is not sustainable environmentally, socially, or economically.
Carbon Budget
In seeking to reduce our carbon emissions, the Government needs to provide affordable alternatives rather than merely penalising people with no alternative.
Energy Security
Energy security was and should be a fundamental part of Ireland’s independence. We need to have a national conversation about the nuclear option.
NEWSTALK – Could we see a return to working from home?
Before reintroducing working from home across the public sector, the Government needs to put the systems in place to ensure the public still gets a service.
https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/highlights-from-the-hard-shoulder/could-we-see-a-return-to-working-from-home
Ireland’s energy needs and agriculture sector
In seeking to meet our energy needs from sustainable sources in the long-term, we must ensure we don’t end up importing energy from unsustainable sources in the meantime.
Read MoreClimate Action & Agriculture
When talking about reducing Carbon emissions from agriculture, we need to consider that the Irish national herd has scarcely increased since 1975, the specific impact of methane on global warming and the risk of displacing Irish produce with South American produce with far greater emissions.
We don’t even yet know the metric the Govt will use to measure greenhouse gas emissions in its Carbon budget, and the metric used will have a large impact on the targets to by met by various sectors, especially agriculture.
My interview on RTE Radio today.
Pillar 2 environmental measures
I asked the Minister for the Environment and Climate whether Government would fully co-fund Pillar 2 environmental measures and whether farmers who were already farming in a sustainable way would be required to reduce herd numbers by the same percentage who were not.
Climate Action Bill debate
It is a pity that the Dáil couldn’t have a proper debate on an appropriate response to the climate emergency.
Renewable energy, Moneypoint and farming
In statements today (Wednesday) to the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment on Climate Action & Low Carbon Development, I raised the issues of renewable energy, Moneypoint and farming.