Minister for the Environment John Gormley has contradicted the Minister for Agriculture on how the Government will achieve tough EU targets on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Brendan Smith said yesterday it would be very difficult for agriculture to make any significant cuts, but Mr Gormley has insisted that all sectors have to take concerted action.
The Minister for Agriculture told a Teagasc conference in Tullamore yesterday that reducing the size of the Irish cattle herd, in order to reduce emissions, made no sense globally.
He added that climate change targets cannot be allowed to damage Irish agriculture.
The comments are stark because agriculture is Ireland's biggest emitting sector, and the Government has agreed to cut its national emissions by 20% by the year 2020.
Mr Gormley later flatly contradicted Minister Smith, saying all sectors had to cut emissions.
He expressed surprise at the comments, because the Taoiseach had made it clear that every department was going to have to step-up to the plate, particularly the problematic ones.
Given tackling climate change was the main reason the Green Party signed-up for Government this row will be watched closely.
