Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the witnesses. As Deputy Ferris noted, they are pushing at an open door in this meeting. On the issue of stamp duty relief specifically, given it is a relief that already exists and which is due to expire, has Macra na Feirme been given any indication? Is Macra na Feirme in the dark or do the witnesses know what might happen to this relief? In a broader context, it was interesting to hear Mr. Connolly use that language of the agricultural entrepreneur and perhaps it being a move away. Mr. Joyce then noted young farmers were not land grabbers. To what extent can Macra na Feirme afford to devote the time and efforts needed to educate and to move the culture away from the fact that land was, and always has been, held dearly? As this always has been difficult, how much work would it entail? Whatever about legislation or grants or other measures, I refer to facilitating the work that is done locally by Macra na Feirme in discussions, by educating and by having that conversation. Obviously, Macra na Feirme is already doing much of that and the witnesses referred to leadership training, industry visits and public speaking. Can Macra na Feirme run a concerted, obvious campaign - perhaps it already is doing it - to state this is where matters are heading and young farmers are not land grabbers? Can they state they seek to do it with dignity but that both ends are needed? It does not matter how many rules are put in place or how much assistance is given unless the culture is changed and in truth, the witnesses are the only ones who can encourage such change. This sort of ties in but is slightly different, in that I wonder whether Macra na Feirme could take more of a psychological approach in this regard.