Local Cavan-Monaghan TD Brendan Smith has called on his Fianna Fáil colleague Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue to ensure the proposed EU Nature Restoration Regulation does not result in a reduction of food production in Ireland.
Speaking to Northern Sound, Deputy Smith said it was "essential" that the EU Agriculture Ministers are very active and strong advocates of the farming and food sectors in all discussions on Nature Restoration Regulation.
He continued; "We must ensure that regulations are not implemented that would reduce the production of food in countries like Ireland where our food production systems are sustainable and operate up to very high and exacting standards.
"The reduction in food production in the European Union would result in greater production levels in regions where their systems are not near as sustainable as food production is in Europe. This would result in the importation of inferior products from distant continents and would actually result in greater emissions."
Deputy Smith added; "Ill-informed commentary regarding our farming and food production systems will not contribute in any way to protecting and nurturing our environment."
Minister McConalogue, in response, said he had raised a number of issues relating to the matter at the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers.
These included the need for clear definitions, particularly with regard to the meaning of rewetting, and the need for better data in order to provide “more reliable estimates of areas - both land and marine - that are potentially impacted, as well as to facilitate consideration of the proposed timeframe for monitoring and reporting."
The Minister also told his fellow EU Agriculture Ministers that forestry targets must take into account the different composition of forests in Member States and highlighted his concerns regarding the possible impact of the proposed targets on Ireland’s fishing and aquaculture industries.
