Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegates for their presentation. I concur with much of what Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill said, particularly about the uncertainty surrounding the framework for Pillar 2 and the level of funding it will provide. The problems experienced by hill farmers in County Wicklow, as outlined by the delegates, are the same as those facing farmers on the west coast, in my own county of Kerry, in west Cork and every area in which hill farmers are struggling to make a living on very marginal land. The types of proposal the delegates have brought forward must be considered as part of a national plan in order to maintain family farm living in hilly and mountainous areas. Ensuring people have a sustainable income which supports their families will have benefits for the wider community in the form of a knock-on effect for local businesses and employment.

In terms of eligibility for the scheme, the delegates have proposed that 10 ha be the minimum eligible area. Did they come across any farmer with a smaller holding than this in the course of their research? They mentioned that under-grazing in some areas as a consequence of restrictions and so on was causing problems in controlling burn-off. I agree that the problem is the existence of two separate burning calendars on the two parts of the island. Will the delegates comment further in this regard?

I acknowledge the effort the delegates have put into their proposals and I am particularly impressed that the committee included 11 farmers. It is vital that stakeholders have a role in determining their own future. Who knows better what needs to be done than those who are at the coalface and whose living is dependent on the outcome? My party shares the concerns expressed by Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill regarding Pillars 1 and 2 of the CAP. Pillar 2 is clearly the poor relation which seems destined to have only the crumbs from the table. If there is to be a support mechanism such as that outlined by the delegates, it must be sufficiently funded to have a real impact in ensuring the sustainability of hill farming across the island.