Farm emissions measurement
Deputy Healy-Rae argued farmers were being unfairly blamed for emissions and said no proper measurements existed to judge carbon neutrality. The Taoiseach said farmers were making strong progress, cited carbon-neutral farming examples, and accepted the need for a national soil survey and better measurement.
What good is that because it is going on every day?
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What about the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications?
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I wish to make two points. Farmers are rarely castigated in this House. We pay tribute to the farming community for the effort made to reduce emissions. Last week, I was in Devenish Farm in Dowth, which is carbon-neutral. The Deputy made a valid point in terms of a national-based survey of soils so that we have a basis from which we can assess the progress being made in becoming carbon-neutral. Many farms are not carbon-neutral at the moment. Very few farmers will say they are.
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In terms of the use of a whole lot of stuff, they are not but they are making very good progress. Some farmers are-----
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How can the Taoiseach make that assumption when no measurements have been taken?