"The Climate Action Bill Paved the Way for Grossly Unfair Penalties" - Cllr Jim Codd
Wexford-based Aontú Councillor, Jim Codd, has said that beef farmers could face more than 20% of a loss in income as a result of our emissions targets.
Speaking today, Cllr Codd said:
"I'm proud to say I grew up on a small farm in a rural community where the farming life was seen as an essential part of our economy and culture. Now that life is endangered by the very people we send to public office to protect us. The Climate Action Bill, which paved the way for carbon taxes and grossly unfair penalties against productive farmers, has little to do with actually dealing with the very real climate change crisis we face and much more to do with putting on a face for the international community at the cost of our entire agricultural sector".
Cllr Codd continued: "Beef farmers earn an average wage of about €10,000 per annum. According to Teagasc, about 30% of farmers are being driven into poverty and debt. Every year there are fewer farmers in this State. KPMG modelling suggests a 25% cut in emissions will cause beef farm families to lose another 21% of their income and Dairy farms a 15% loss of income"
"How many farms will be lost because of that? How many of your neighbours will lose everything? I'm proud to be a member of the only party who voted against a bill that will destroy rural Ireland", concluded Cllr Codd.
CRÍOCH