Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Coghlan. I wish to add a few brief questions before we conclude this tranche of the meeting. When young farmers do their green certificate or take part in the new grant scheme, is it mandatory that a day is set aside for farm safety training and coaching? If a worker goes onto a building site, whether he is 30, 40 or 50 years old he will not be allowed on the site if he has not completed a safety certificate. The regulations have become very strict in that regard, which is proper order. The best approach to take is to educate young farmers, be they male or female, when they are starting off because when one learns something at a young age it stays with one. It is very hard to get an old farmer or even an old politician to change tack. We are fairly stuck in our ways. Is there a mandatory farm safety element in the training process under the REP or GLAS schemes or what was known as the old green certificate course which young farmers completed in order to avail of the exemption from stamp duty among other things? If not, why not?

My other worry is based on my having a farming background and living in west Cork. There is concern among farm organisations about over-regulation. While we must have regulation, farmers to whom I speak daily are concerned about over-regulation and red tape in farming. The intention of this committee is not to seek extra regulation; we are trying to shine a light on the fact that last year 40 people died on farms, which is 40 too many. Is there a way of proceeding by way of education rather than introducing another tranche of regulation, which is very burdensome for the farming community?