Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Commissioner Hogan to the meeting. Most of the issues have been discussed but I will try to raise one or two thorny issues.

I know the Commissioner will say the issue of the hen harrier is not one that concerns him but the problem is that people here say it is not their issue and I get the impression that it is the same story in Brussels, that it is not their issue. The problem arises because in areas where there is an SAC, NHA or SPA designation on a farmer's land, this has impact on the ability to farm that land. While it may not have been the Department or the Commission that imposed the designation, when someone or some other Department made the decision to impose it, this had the ability to affect farming practice. This is causing significant concern among farmers.

Senator Comiskey mentioned the issue of commonages. Land eligibility has caused significant concern due to ineligible land and clawbacks, which is one of the most contentious issues currently. The problem with the clawback arises when the clawback goes back four years because of the new mapping systems, although the farmer in question feels he did nothing wrong.

One other issue is the publication of single farm payments of every farmer in the country. This has caused some anger and I was asked to raise this matter with the Commissioner if I got the opportunity to meet him. I now have that opportunity.