Tom Barry (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We should look at the definition again and examine if we are crossing over on the definition of a single farm payment. People sign a single farm payment application form, an application for European money, stating that they are a farmer. We do not want a situation where people are stating they are a farmer to receive European moneys and at the same time are not qualifying for this. I know the Minister will be tired of people bringing up agriculture matters. However, if the push here is to encourage transfer of land, I cannot understand why, in previous times in sections dealing with land lease income exemptions, the exemptions did not apply to sons or daughters. We all wish for elderly farmers to transfer the farm to the next generation. I benefited from the retirement scheme many years ago. We are not allowing the land lease income exemptions to apply even though we should. It is a de facto retirement scheme that will bring in a cascade of young farmers. On this section, we should be cognisant that a person signs a declaration stating he or she is an active farmer on a single farm payment application farm.