Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her response. A lot of work has been done and I know the Department is behind me on this. I know it can be done because Devenish has done it. It has done incredible research in Dowth in County Meath just across the border from County Louth. By accurately measuring on-farm carbon emissions, we can capture and understand carbon sequestration and the power of our land.

In Northern Ireland, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is doing this. It is putting money behind this on a voluntary basis for dairy farmers. The Department acknowledges that many farms across the country are doing incredible work in various mitigation initiatives. Regarding carbon balance, if people do not know their balance sheet, they are working in the dark so an understanding of the figures is needed. Farmers then need to be rewarded when they are doing a really good job.