The meat-eating Ardee woman is due to go head to head with the famous vegetarian musician at an EU parliament hearing on Thursday, December 3.

McCartney intends to use the hearing titled 'Global Warming and Food Policy: Less Meat = Less Heat' to promote an agenda of eating less meat, while McGuinness will be representing the EU parliament.

"Paul McCartney is a celebrity with a vegetarian agenda. He's a big attraction and there will be huge interest in what he has to say but it will be nothing new," said Ms McGuinness.

"I don't mind being part of the debate as long as it's balanced. I'm fearful that the focus will be on a vegetarian agenda rather than on the bigger picture."

Speaking to The Dundalk Democrat ahead of Thursday's debate Ms McGuinness said that she intends to argue that eating less meat is not the solution to climate change.

"We used to eat fish on a Friday to save our souls and now we are being asked to not eat meat on a Monday to save the planet. Neither will work," she said.

"I'm a great believer in moderation in the diet. We shouldn't penalise food production. We should use the best technologies to reduce emissions.

"Even if we stopped producing meat, we would still need animals. Milk production is vital. In terms of agricultural policy, you can't just pick one idea and run with it.

"From an EU point of view we have reduced emissions from agriculture by 20 per cent. We are trying to do things. We need sustainable agriculture and that includes crops and animals."

tamara@dundalkdemocrat.ie