The government's move to pass the Climate Action Bill through the Dáil today "could have serious repercussions for the implementation of the legislation", the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has warned.

Describing the move as "wrong" at a protest coordinated by the organisation in Dublin today (Wednesday, June 16), IFA president Tim Cullinan said:

“There are flaws in this bill which could be ironed out if Minister [for Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon] Ryan was willing to take on board amendments suggested by IFA, or some of the 200 amendments proposed in the Dáil.

"Instead, the minister has rejected all amendments and moved to force the bill through today,” he said, adding:

“Yesterday in the Dáil a number of deputies raised concerns about the order of business and the ramming through of this bill. Yet the government pushed on to ratify the order of business.

"They only won that vote by 24 votes to 19, which indicates growing levels of disquiet about the process,” he said.

The president was speaking at a protest of members of the IFA National Council and the National Environment Committee outside the Convention Centre in Dublin ahead of a Dáil debate on the Climate Action Bill.

This protest is under Covid-19 public health guidelines allowing organised outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people, the association said.

“IFA supports climate action and this Bill is a very significant piece of legislation that deserves serious debate. It will have ramifications for the future of the entire economy. Rushing it through like this does the Bill a disservice,” he said.

Cullinan said farmers have three main difficulties with the proposed legislation.

Continuing, Cullinan said: “Over the last few days, we have received lots of promises from the three government parties about how the bill will be interpreted and implemented - but we cannot rely on promises that are not spelled out in the bill.

“This bill is likely to be challenged and relying on implicit meanings and future promises will not cut it in the courts,” the president concluded.