The government has come to the realisation that the Green Party’s ambitions aren’t feasible to implement – but they’ve realised it “too late.”
That’s what Mattie McGrath TD told Gript this week in an exclusive interview.
“With the Climate Action Bill and other pieces of legislation, they gave the Greens a blank cheque,” said the Tipperary TD.
“And so did the backbenchers in Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and indeed some regional independents and others who supported it. But now the cheque has to be cashed.”
The comments come as Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue and Climate Minister Eamon Ryan grapple over targets for emissions cuts in the agriculture sector.
McConalogue is pushing for 22%, while Ryan wants 30%. The outcome will likely have far-reaching implications for Ireland’s farming industry.
According to the Irish Mirror, a senior Government source said that “the target will have to be somewhere in the middle, both sides will be unhappy.”
McGrath reacted to the figures being discussed, saying the whole thing was “outrageous,” and will have “enormous implications” for Irish food production.
“It’s a shocking dilemma for agriculture, for food production, and for many, many families and young farmers who have made huge investments, who frankly are being demonised,” he said.
The Independent TD went on to criticise many government backbenchers complaining about the unpopular climate policies, accusing them of “crying crocodile tears.”
“They’re appealing to their constituents, but their constituents are enraged at this, and will be further enraged when this is finalised at maybe 25 or 26%,” he said, adding: “It’s bonkers.”
McGrath went on to point out that while Ireland discusses cuts to its agriculture sector, it is also importing beef from Brazil.
“We’re going to import beef, and damage our own producers here,” he said.
He added that Ireland has “excellent animal husbandry practices,” and that many farmers have voluntarily employed “green policies of their own initiative.”
“And yet now they’re being penalised. So where do they turn next?”
Criticising Charlie McConalogue, McGrath said he was “the third choice” as Agriculture Minister, chosen to be a “super yes man” to Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
By “third choice,” McGrath was likely referring to the fact that the last two Agriculture Ministers before McConalogue, Dara Calleary and Barry Cowen, both lost their positions within months of the government formation.
Cowen was sacked for a drink driving conviction, and Calleary resigned due to his attendance at the controversial Golf Gate event, leading to McConalogue acquiring the job.
“If kindergarten children game up with this idea they’d be reprimanded and told to sit in the bold boys’ chair,” said McGrath.
McGrath went on to say that Ireland had “lost sight” of the issue of energy supply.
“We’re adamant on closing our peat as other countries are cranking up their coal and peat industries,” he said.
“We’re the good boys of Europe, but we’ll know all about it if the lights go out in December or January.”
He said that the EU’s calls for energy conservation and environmentalism were “hollow” considering the lack of scrutiny on planes “flying across the sky by the thousands.”
“It’s so unfair that our primary industry is punished, while industries like aviation go unpunished and unscathed,” he said.
“But of course government politicians will have to fly to Bilderberg, and dance to the merry tune of the World Economic Forum and the globalists of the world.”