Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The draft compromise proposals from the Italian Presidency will form the basis of the next phase of the process. In that context, I suggest that we draft a political contribution on this matter. The officials have outlined the key concerns in the document before us and if members feel we should add to that, we can do so and then send it on to the European Parliament, the Commission, the Irish MEPs and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

While it is not for everybody, organic farming has a role to play but we have no hope of getting beyond 1% or 2% of total share if we tie ourselves up in too many impractical restrictions before we even get any momentum behind it.