Climate action Bill scrutiny
Deputy Michael McNamara argued that the climate action legislation would weaken the Dáil’s ability to question Government priorities. The Minister responded that CAP and climate measures must fit the plan and would return to the House for ongoing consultation and scrutiny.
I begin by correcting what I said earlier about the amount of money that has been wasted on sittings in the national convention centre. As the Ceann Comhairle proudly pointed out, it is indeed €1.8 million of taxpayers' money that has been spent on this place.
The Minister brought a Bill through the House dealing with the climate action plan that will, in effect, remove the ability of this House to question the priorities and the plan put in place. That is fundamentally undemocratic and how it fits with the constitutional imperative for the Government to be answerable to the Dáil remains to be seen. Last week, a new Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, budget was agreed that will see 25% of provision being moved to Pillar 2 environmental measures. I expect the Minister will agree with me that this is a positive development. However, given that we will have no control over the climate action plan, will he commit now to maximum co-funding for those environmental measures?
In particular, will he give a commitment that farmers already engaged in sustainable farming will not have to reduce their herd numbers by the same percentage as less sustainable ones, such that there will not be an across-the-board cut?
Comment on this
I was glad there was agreement on the revised CAP arrangements. There is good and bad in it. From an environmental perspective, many of my colleagues in Brussels are deeply disappointed it did not go further. In truth, much of the detail on how it is going to be applied is yet to be finalised and teased out. CAP and all our policy measures must fit in with our climate action plan and the legislation the Deputy referred to, which will be brought back to this House on an ongoing basis. We will be consulting in each sectoral area to get the views, opinions and the Oireachtas support for what is being done. It must be done in a way that increases incomes in agriculture and brings new, young farmers into farming and forestry and into restoring our wetlands and managing our wildlife and that also reduces emissions. I believe that can be done. There will be multiple sources of funding. Much of it has to come from the retailers and large processors, which have been taking a disproportionate share of the price. That, together with CAP, should help.