'Ireland will most likely fail to meet even half' of its climate targets, President Connolly tells Bloom

Ms Connolly praised some of the climate initiatives at Bloom, including the festival's use of shuttle buses and a biodigester, which will be used to treat waste and generate energy. Picture: Tony Maxwell

“We cannot continue with business as usual” when it comes to the environment, food security and sustainability, President Catherine Connolly has said.

At her first Bord Bia Bloom festival in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, Ms Connolly said the amount of food Ireland imports and exports is “stark”. She made the comments a day after an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report found Ireland is on track to miss more of its climate targets.