'National conversation' needed about food production to stop farmers from going to the wall

The Labour Party is calling for a Citizens’ Assembly on the future of Agriculture and Food productions in Ireland

Sean Sherlock, Labour TD for Cork East, believes that the sector should be the subject of a Citizens' Assembly convened to discuss the future of farming and food production in Ireland. File Photo: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie 

A "national conversation" is needed about the future of agriculture and food production in Ireland, the Labour Party has said.

The ecological impact of agriculture has been the focus of intense debate in recent weeks as the Government agreed a 25% reductions target for the sector's carbon emissions. However, that figure, which was arrived at after weeks of negotiation between ministers, was criticised for being both not ambitious enough and too punitive on farmers.