Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten was speaking to Shannonside FM on Monday.
Minister Naughten said he thinks farmers are already working to reduce emissions and address climate change.
“Looking at it from the headline figure, I would be quite concerned in relation to the comments that have come from the Citizens’ Assembly regarding this.
“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.
“So there are significant savings farmers can make as well as reducing the amount of carbon they’re emitting.
Resolution passed
Last weekend, the 75 members of the Assembly voted in favour of a tax on GHG emissions from the agriculture sector.
The resolution they adopted states that “there should be a tax on greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. There should be rewards for the farmer for land management that sequesters carbon. Any resulting revenue should be re-invested to support climate-friendly agricultural practices”.
The decision has been slammed by the IFA and other farm organisations.
Rural imbalance
Meanwhile, Independent TD for Roscommon/east Galway Michael Fitzmaurice described the Citizens Assembly vote as “pie in the sky”.
He told Shannonside that using electric cars in the cities is “attainable” but that they cannot work in rural Ireland.
He added that there was not enough of a rural balance on the Assembly.
Read more
Everything we have written on climate change
Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten was speaking to Shannonside FM on Monday.
Minister Naughten said he thinks farmers are already working to reduce emissions and address climate change.
“Looking at it from the headline figure, I would be quite concerned in relation to the comments that have come from the Citizens’ Assembly regarding this.
“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.
“So there are significant savings farmers can make as well as reducing the amount of carbon they’re emitting.
Resolution passed
Last weekend, the 75 members of the Assembly voted in favour of a tax on GHG emissions from the agriculture sector.
The resolution they adopted states that “there should be a tax on greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. There should be rewards for the farmer for land management that sequesters carbon. Any resulting revenue should be re-invested to support climate-friendly agricultural practices”.
The decision has been slammed by the IFA and other farm organisations.
Rural imbalance
Meanwhile, Independent TD for Roscommon/east Galway Michael Fitzmaurice described the Citizens Assembly vote as “pie in the sky”.
He told Shannonside that using electric cars in the cities is “attainable” but that they cannot work in rural Ireland.
He added that there was not enough of a rural balance on the Assembly.
Read more
Everything we have written on climate change
SHARING OPTIONS