Farmers are being told that crazy targets of 22% to 30% are to be set for a reduction in agricultural emissions. Targets, if set at these levels, will decimate farmers, particularly those at the lower income end. KPMG stated that 56,000 jobs will be lost if these targets are set and imposed. Those are rural Ireland jobs. At a time when we face the worst cost-of-living crisis in living memory, and where we no longer produce sugar or mill flour, the Tánaiste’s party wants to put many farmers in rural Ireland on the breadline. Why is his party abandoning the rural farmers and their families? These are farmers whom the Tánaiste’s party once regarded as its heartland voters. Why is the Government imposing crazy, batshit, urban-centric policy without justification, with targets which are draconian and unrealistic on farmers, and decimating rural Ireland in the process?

I thank the Deputy. The Government has not agreed any final targets yet for the agricultural sector but they will be in the range of 22% to 30%. As far as other sectors go, such as industry, transport or electricity, we are asking for the lowest emissions reductions from the agricultural sector because we recognise it is a special sector, is involved in food production, and needs to be specially treated. That is why the lowest targets of any sector are being asked of the agricultural one.

We are facing a climate crisis. It is real and is not made up. I will not repeat the word used by the Deputy but it is certainly not fake. The climate crisis is very real and we see it all around us now. If we do not turn the tide on the climate crisis in this generation, there will not be any agriculture at all. That is the truth of it.