Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue and Minister for Environment Eamon Ryan squared up on agriculture’s carbon emissions targets this week.

Direct negotiations took place between the two ministers, with Minister Ryan pushing for a deal to be done before the Dáil summer recess on 14 July. It is understood that he was met with “stiff resistance” on an upper target from Minister McConalogue and his officials.

Minister Ryan told the Irish Farmers Journal that the target for farming will have to “go to the max”, suggesting the upper limit of a 30% cut in emissions.

The Irish Farmers Journal-commissioned KPMG report found that a 30% cut would require an 18% to 22% reduction in cattle numbers.

But, at BEEF 2022, Minister McConalogue said “just cutting beef numbers to solve one problem” wouldn’t work.