Geologist Ian Plimer has criticised the move for Ireland to cull 200,000 head of cattle in a bold effort to meet climate targets.

Mr Plimer said leaders telling primary producers what to do “can only end in disaster”.

“The Irish know about this from the potato famine,” he said.

“A third of their population died, a third emigrated, and the same thing will happen.

“They will lose productive people from Ireland and they’ll go somewhere else.”