The number of cars on the road may have to be limited if the government opts for lower carbon emission reductions from the agriculture sector.
Agriculture emissions will have to drop by between 22 and 30 per cent under the climate action plan.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil TDs are fighting government colleagues to keep the number at 22 per cent.
This would mean making up the deficit in other sectors.
Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue has denied the spat will further increase urban-rural divide:
"No, certainly not. And I think we see you're trying to be presented that way often, but that certainly is not the case.
If you look at the role farmers are playing and farmers are doing a lot in this regard at the moment and will do a lot and my objective is as Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine is to ensure that we do the most we possibly can."
