Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Colleagues and I worked hard at European level to ensure that the nature restoration law was significantly adjusted so that it would be appropriate to Irish circumstances. If the law is passed, the onus will be on us as a country to put our own plan together for how to implement it. We have been clear that CAP funding cannot be impacted in any way by whatever needs arise in that regard. That is a commitment from the Government.

The Burren Life project, which was a European innovation partnership project, was a temporary pilot in nature and has been subsumed into the wider ACRES programme. As such, there are more people taking part in it now and it spreads the production and positive outcomes that can happen. A small number of farmers with larger landholdings who were involved in the initial pilot have seen their payments reduced. I am examining that matter to determine how we might respond.

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