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An Taisce has defended its schools pack and told the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine that it does not advocate vegan diets.
“We have not promoted veganism and never have done,” Charles Stanley-Smith, communications adviser for An Taisce told the Oireachtas on 9 April.
However, he added that: “We will not apologise for giving climate change advice on the amount of carbon generated by certain foods.”
An Taisce sparked national debate recently when a pack they produced for schools appeared to suggest that people should eat less meat.
Criticism
The IFA heavily criticised the pack but An Taisce insisted that the pack was for encouraging discussion on climate change among secondary school students and that the issue had been blown out of proportion.
Members of the Oireachtas committee added their criticism to the school pack and questioned An Taisce’s level of understanding regarding agriculture production.
“When you have something in there that isn’t factually correct, it would make people question the rest of your facts,” Sinn Féin spokesperson for agriculture Martin Kenny said regarding a comment An Taisce made on the use of peat in mushroom compost.
He also questioned the suggestion that people should move away from eating meat.
Feed imports
In turn, An Taisce highlighted the issue of high animal feed imports to Ireland in comparison with other EU countries. It insisted that Ireland should substitute imports for native products and even on the issue of alternative nut juices to dairy milk, it advocated that Ireland should increase oat juice production over soy or almond juice imports.
However, the matter of the schools pack dominated the Oireachtas committee discussion.
Fine Gael senator Michelle Mulherin keenly expressed her disgust in An Taisce and said that its pack had the potential to affect “a lot of vulnerable children”, some of whom could have eating disorders.
“It is not your domain to be stepping in there,” Mulherin said on the issue of dietary advice. “That is between the Department of Health and parents.”
In concluding remarks, An Taisce attempted to defend the pack by pointing out that it had been signed off by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
In response, acting chair of the committee Jackie Cahill TD quipped: “That doesn’t make it right.”
After six hours, the committee discussion was then concluded.
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