Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief because much has already been said on both presentations. The similarity between them struck me. I thank both representatives for attending the joint committee today. The issues of land mobility and access to land are common to both the ICSA and Macra na Feirme. As regards disincentivising conacre, we will ultimately have to look at making serious changes to how this is structured. During the CAP negotiations it struck me that we were the only country in Europe that had a problem with meeting the historical date for payment. That was all linked to conacre because other countries have medium or long-term leases, partnerships, and a much healthier approach to land, whereas we do not.

As regards rainy day planning, in Kildalton agricultural college I recall being told that farmers should beware of big cheque confidence. A big cheque may arrive one day but they will have to survive for the next six months without another shilling coming in, so they should not spend the money on a new tractor. The ICSA's rainy day proposal is an interesting one. We need to undertake a body of work in the coming months on foot of the presentations. I will allow the witnesses to answer the questions now.