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

I thank Mr. Dillon for his presentation. Much of what Deputy Ó Cuív states is what I have been hearing as well at meetings throughout the country. I understand representatives of the Department attended meetings in the west. I was not at those meetings but what I know, from the farmers to whom I have spoken since, as I was in the west last week, is that there is total dissatisfaction. These farmers could not get any straight answers and they are very concerned about what is coming down the track. All of us here, as public representatives, feel the same way about this. As Deputy Ó Cuív stated, this could turn into a nightmare if it is not done right.

On GLAS on the hill and how to draw down the payments, the plan is determined by the buy-in from those who have access to and use of the commonage. One could end up in a situation where one is obliged to maintain the commonage, I assume in its entirety, in good agricultural and environmental condition. I refer to a vast amount of hectares with only a few farmers. In a commonage of 20 farmers, for example, as Mr. Dillon stated, there may be ten active and ten non-active, with the five farmers buying into it responsible for the good agricultural and environmental condition of the commonage. Mr. Dillon should clarify how the Department proposes to determine that.

Mr. Dillon also spoke of a single plan for a commonage. Is this workable? The onus is back on the active farmer to bring forward the plan and get everyone else who is an active farmer to buy into the same plan. It is determined by everyone being supportive of each other, and that may not be the case. If Mr. Dillon is familiar with rural areas and those who share commonages, it is difficult to get shareholders to agree. If that does not happen, who will be at a loss?

Mr. Dillon also stated that no one will be locked out of GLAS if there is not a 50% take-up. If any percentage under 50% is prepared to buy into and work this, their application should be verified and they should be allowed to draw down their entitlements.

Who appoints the commonage implementation committee? Is it the Department or does it include Department officials? I would be concerned to know who it is. If there is a big disagreement here between active farmers on commonages who have been present at the Department's meeting and are not satisfied with the officials who dealt with those meetings, and if those officials are the ones who will adjudicate afterwards, I would be concerned about it.

We have a short space of time to get this right. The Department needs to listen to those on the ground who have been active farmers in commonages all their lives. Those are the best ones to know what is happening there. I hope that will be the case.