AGRICULTURE MINISTER CHARLIE McConalogue has said “you’d be forgiven for thinking that agriculture is a bogeyman in Ireland” in relation to carbon emissions. 

Speaking on Morning Ireland, McConalogue said that his department will be seeking to strike an appropriate balance in relation to continuing to back family farms to do food production, but to “take every step we possibly can to minimise emissions”.

Ireland has a number of climate targets in place all centred around the requirement to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 and reach net zero emissions by 2050. 

The country agreed its first carbon budgets earlier this year which set out an overall limit on emissions that the country must stay under to reach crucial climate goals. 

McConalogue said that he wants to be able to support farmers while also hitting the carbon targets he has been set. 

He said: “We are one of the most sustainable food producing nations in the world. But we want to get even better at that and we want to be the best in terms of the the lowest emissions profile.

“Look at the opportunities that are there for example, in relation to backing farm families in relation to energy production, for example, through solar and also through biomethane production.”

McConalogue added that it is the duty of each department to reduce its carbon footprint. 

“There are very significant targets there in relation to transport and the electrification of our car fleet. And that’s what is ongoing. It was encouraging to see that now in terms of new cars this year that half of the cars are either electric or hybrid and that’s something we need to see.

“Every sector is going to have to play its part.”

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil TD for Laois–Offaly Barry Cowen has said he will insist and  argue within his party that the emissions target for agriculture be set at the lower end of initial recommendations at 22%.

He said the commitment to provide targets for sectors must be augmented by government supports to entice, encourage and work with farm families in achieving this ambition.

“Our national herd can be maintained so long as the technology associated with genomics and foodstuffs are subvented as investments in farms throughout the country,” said Cowen. 

Speaking about the Environment Minister Eamon Ryan, Cowen said he should be “hell bent on greatly improving on the meagre targets associated with offshore wind energy”.

“I would also contend that we increase our ambitions associated with potential energy dividend from offshore wind capacities off our coasts, particularly the west coast. That potential not only can enhance our emissions targets but yield a €300 billion bonanza by 2050,” he said.

Cowen agreed with McConalogue that every sector must do what it can, stating that there is potential within Ryan’s own department to do a lot more for our emissions targets, by looking at “energy provision and our economy rather than the lazy nod to the agricultural sector”.

“We have led the world in the quality of our agricultural produce to date. It’s contribution to our economy is appreciated and it’s imperative we work with that industry rather than issuing lectures/dictates thus ensuring the programme for government targets and ambition can be realised rather than stalled,” said Cowen.

Work is ongoing on the government’s sectoral carbon emissions targets, which are due to be published by the end of the month. However, it is understood that there is tension between the coalition parties over the issue. 

Along with Cowen, a number of other Fianna Fáil TDs are understood to be concerned about the impact of the target on the agriculture sector and on farming families.

A number of backbench TDs and senators at the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting last week also raised concerns about a target of 30% being set for the agriculture sector, with politicians telling their party leader Leo Varadkar that anything over 23% would result in a reduction in the herd.  

Ireland has a number of climate targets in place all centred around the requirement to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 and reach net zero emissions by 2050. 

The country agreed its first carbon budgets earlier this year which set out an overall limit on emissions that the country must stay under to reach crucial climate goals. 

With reporting by Christina Finn