Taoiseach under fire over 'national herd' comments

The Taoiseach's comments go against the position of Green Party leader Eamon Ryan and environmental campaigners. File picture: Denis Minihane

The Taoiseach has come under fire for telling farmers that there should be no reduction of the national herd at a time when the agriculture sector must reduce carbon emissions.

Simon Harris has been accused of making "completely inconsistent" and "divisive" remarks after he suggested that brewers are never asked to reduce the amount of beer they produce, but the size of the national herd is constantly under scrutiny.