Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It comes back to a basic point. I outlined for consideration before I went back to the original questions the question of a basic payment scheme requirement of one per 1.5 hectares where somebody involved in a GLAS commonage plan nominates somebody else to take care of his or her requirement on the commonage according to a system whereby the commonage is held in an enhanced position beyond GAEC. By this system, the farmer would still have met his or her responsibly. I do not know whether that will fly with Europe but that is basically the key point if it is the case that somebody has to be active. It comes back to the signing of an agreement, which is rather different from somebody claiming somebody else’s entitlement saying he had a certain number of sheep on the commonage while his neighbour did not, and that he is going to continue in this regard. Signing makes people sit down and agree with one another. It will be difficult but I do not foresee any easy solution.

We cannot continue on this any longer as it is 4.05 p.m. and we must deal with organic farming. I ask members to remain here for ten minutes. I thank Dr. Smyth, whom I understand has to leave.