Sticking with the Emerald Isle, from the Sunday Times, July 24:
Ministers poised to impose upper level on climate goals
A carbon reduction target of 27 or 28 per cent is expected to be agreed this week by Eamon Ryan, the Green Party leader, and Charlie McConalogue, the agriculture minister, according to government sources. The compromise would be closer to upper end of the 22 to 30 per cent range that was set for the agricultural sector in the climate action plan last year.
Government sources say McConalogue is still resisting pressure to accept the 30 per cent reduction target, amid fears that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael backbenchers could join the farmers’ lobby group and opposition parties in resisting it. There are even concerns that one or two government backbench TDs could resign their party whips in protest at a high emissions reduction target being set for the farm sector.
Officials from both Ryan’s and McConalogue’s departments were tight-lipped this weekend after a meeting between the ministers concluded without agreement last week. A spokeswoman for Ryan said: “Discussions are ongoing. However, it is still anticipated that targets will be finalised next week.” The Department of Agriculture said: “The government is committed to meeting ambitious climate-mitigation targets and established a framework to do so. In the context of the framework, the government is required to establish sectoral ceilings.”
One senior government figure predicted McConalogue might not conclude the discussions with Ryan this week if he felt the reduction target sought for the farming sector was too high. But failure to reach agreement before Wednesday’s cabinet meeting might only fuel further opposition from the farming lobby, and put pressure on the government right through the Dail’s summer recess....
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And at The Times, June 30:
Strict emissions target for farming ‘will lead to drastic cuts in cattle’
The number of dairy and beef cattle in Ireland will have to be cut significantly if the emissions reduction target for farming is set at 30 per cent for 2030, government sources said.
The warning comes in advance of bilateral talks this week between Charlie McConalogue, the agriculture minister, and Eamon Ryan, the minister for the environment and climate.
The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) yesterday urged McConalogue to “push back on any attempt to introduce a sectoral emissions ceiling above 22 per cent”, the lower end of the 22-30 per cent range for farm emissions cuts agreed last year. Ryan is reported within government to be seeking close to a 30 per cent cut from the farm sector and to be pressing other sectors for cuts at the upper end of the target ranges agreed last year.
Government sources said that Ryan, who also serves as transport minister, will set one of the highest carbon-emissions reduction targets — 50 per cent — for the transport sector when he finalises targets next month.
McConalogue says carbon reduction from farming could be achieved while keeping herd numbers “stable”. Tim Cullinan, IFA president, said: “This is an acid test for the minister, who must stand up for our sector. A target of 30 per cent would result in significantly reduced production, which could devastate the farming sector in Ireland.”
Government sources agree that a 30 per cent target for agriculture would require “very significant cuts to the national herd” to meet the new target, while a 22 per cent reduction could be achieved through measures such as an earlier slaughter age for beef cattle and cuts in the volume of fertilisers used....
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Well, there goes the Kerrygold butter.Earlier:
Ireland Is Becoming a Nation of Renters (again)
