Mr. John Bryan:

On behalf of the IFA's 90,000 members, who are spread through every parish in Ireland, I thank the committee for this opportunity to make a presentation on commonages. As the Chairman stated, joining me here today are Mr. Tom Fadian from Mayo, Mr. Flor McCarthy from Kerry, and Mr. Gerry Gunning from Roscommon.

I welcome the committee's interest in this particular issue, particularly as farmers in these areas have been very concerned about proposals to introduce new stocking rate criteria without their agreement. Discussions on a review of the commonage framework plan have been ongoing for some time, and the IFA has strongly stressed that the requirement for collective agreement on commonages is unworkable and unacceptable. It was only right that plans to introduce this were put on hold pending the introduction of greater flexibility, as the problems encountered vary from commonage to commonage.

In the context of eligibility for land, farmers have been particularly concerned where areas have been reduced following Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine inspections deeming they were not in good environmental agricultural condition. The destocking of hills ten years ago has led to some areas becoming overgrown. The time is opportune for the introduction of an upland environmental management scheme which should coincide with the implementation of new stocking rates.

Critical to maintaining farming in hill areas is ensuring the maintenance of farm incomes. Low returns from hill sheep farming mean that direct payments are a critical element of farm income. Cutbacks in recent budgets, as well as attacks on the income disregards for farm assist, have resulted in farm income pressure in commonage and hill areas. The Common Agricultural Policy after 2013 must ensure active farmers are supported by recognising the limitations of the land and the value to the environment and the socioeconomic effect of maintaining farming in these areas. This can be done through a combination of pillar 1 single farm payment and a very strong pillar 2 rural development programme supporting areas of natural constraint and an environmental scheme.

I will now hand over to Mr. Gerry Gunning, the executive secretary of the IFA rural development committee, who will make a PowerPoint presentation on the issues and proposals necessary to sustain farming in commonage areas.