Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I concur with what my colleague, Deputy Tom Barry, has said. We are significantly different in terms of crop diversity and potential from what prevails more commonly at European level. The Commission representative referred to the fact that the farmers involved get a better understanding of the 2020 policy of the land and its potential, its potential for diversity and biodiversity and all of that. Surely the farmers are the people who know. As Deputy Heydon said, they are the custodians of the land and no one knows the land better. It is a problem - it has been reflected in recent times - of a disconnect between thinking and policies at EU level. Often, this is evinced by European Commission representatives and it can be very annoying. The fact is there is an over-emphasis on prescriptive policies emanating from the directorates-general, whether those responsible for environment, agriculture or anywhere else in Europe, and such policies are over-circumscribed.

Deputy Barry is correct that when we speak of cross-compliance in Ireland only fines, penalties and the like are mentioned. Irish farmers are trying to balance increased intensive production with the environmental protection measures that they have adopted. They do not merely pay lip-service to these measures. Their goal is to protect the environment and pass their land on to future generations in a well-preserved state. Some of the policies emanating from the European Commission are more theoretical than practical and it is time more attention was paid to the efforts that have been made here in Ireland. These efforts should be recognised because it seems that often policies are largely intended as being more punitive than helpful.