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

I welcome the witnesses and thank them for their presentations. I am glad to see the document states the Department needs independent and suitable access to all parcels of land. It is something that was not properly defined in the past and, as the witnesses know, has created significant problems. The definition of the boundaries could be explained better. Is barbed wire fence a boundary? I would like a written answer to my questions because I know many issues have been raised. Will some posts with binder twine constitute a fence? Are gaps allowed and, if they are, what width should they be? Appropriate fencing was mentioned. Could we get a definition of what it is? When there are difficulties, these things become real issues. I have come across too many such cases, which have caused too much distress.

Is there any possibility of maps such as those in the presentation being made available online? It is a new system, but it would be handy to have access to them privately. We would also love to have the software. If we agree to the use of the maps and farmers agree to the lines on them, will applications be accepted? In the past, maps have been issued and people have, in good faith, accepted them as good representations. However, an inspector then said he or she was not happy and a tape measure was taken out. Neither I nor inspectors are engineers, but could we get rid of tape measures and accept what is written here in good faith? Farmers accept a lot, especially as the system gets more complicated.

In the map, X01 is 60% and X02 is 20%. Is this going to be an annual measurement or could it be defined for the period of the CAP running from 2015 to 2020? Can we say that it is agreed and that is it? The trees and bushes grow every day but, if a farmer gets active and decides to start chopping, the area is being reduced and the definition is being changed. Can we have something fixed for a period rather than the person tripping up on the fact there has been growth during this period of the CAP?

If an applicant reckons an area is 60% scrub and it then transpires it is actually 75% scrub, he is only out by 15%. Given he was allowed a 10% variable at the start without any punishment, if a farmer defines it in a way that it is over the 10% variable, will the first 10% be allowed as goodwill? With all due respect, it is very hard to define this whole situation. Is there any possibility of getting sufficiently good satellite maps that would just do this the first time, and be done with it? Do the witnesses understand my point on the 10% variable, given the first 10% is not regarded?

With regard to the ineligibility of furze, I gather that over the years furze was used for bedding and feeding of horses, so it is not exactly a weed or a bad plant. If it was used for mulching, that would be a particular use for it. I ask that this issue be looked into.

There is some ground that is now deemed ineligible but which was deemed eligible in past years. If people had established a single farm payment on ground which was previously eligible, could there be some means to compensate them or to swap over to other land if that situation occurs? While I am not sure the situation arises often, it may arise.

On a point made by other members, it is unfair for people to be punished for accidental burning on lands or where there has been malicious burning.

On the question of rushes, to be fair, it seems a tolerance is allowed but I would be afraid the word would get out that people should clear rushes through the use of herbicides. There are three main herbicides, Glyphosate, MCPA and Trichlorfon, but all of those are absolutely the last resort and one does not want to be putting out sprays just for payments. I would like to hear it loud and clear from the witnesses that, unless they are a major problem, rushes will be passed as the witnesses' pictures suggest.

Given Mr. Lorcan O'Shea is present, I will make a brief point on GLAS. Can bird cover be used on permanent pasture ground and will there be a definition on that down the road?

An issue affecting the lands on my side of the country concerns the problems caused by wild deer. There are also the problems caused by crows and pigeons, which have gone out of all order. We have no way to control them and while in the past we had Alphachloralose, can anyone from the Department suggest a way to stop these pests? They are becoming a problem not only with regard to the crops that are growing but also those in storage.