Irish farmers are "leading the charge and delivering on our climate ambitions", the Minister for Agriculture has told the Dáil this evening.
"The current narrative of farmers being laggards is wrong", Charlie McConalogue said.
He said farmers could be forgiven for thinking that theirs is the "only sector that has to make radical changes in order to tackle climate change."
Minister McConalogue said farmers know where they need to go on climate change, and they are taking steps to get there.
They are not asking for a free pass, he added.
Farmers are also facing the challenge of Brexit, he said, welcoming the legislation that is before the Dáil this evening – the Loan Guarantee Schemes Agreements Bill.
The Minister of State, Damian English, thanked all deputies – "opposition deputies, mainly" – for allowing the rapid passage of the bill.
He reassured them that the Government will not use such measures as a rule.
