Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentation, which gains from being brief, succinct and to the point. It is a good example for other witnesses who might appear before us. We note the submissions and I was one of three or four members here when the delegation made their very comprehensive submission in October 2015. That formed the core of our report. Deputy Deering was Vice Chairman of that committee and the Minister of State, Deputy Doyle, was the Chairman. We prepared a substantial report and were acutely aware of the significant bias towards large farmers, as the witnesses have pointed out. The opposite should clearly be the case in order to attract people to the scheme. It goes against the idea of the economies of scale.

There is significant potential for growth in the organic farming sector in Ireland and that formed the basis of the discussion at our previous meeting. At that time, the organic farming scheme was about to be introduced. Has there been any progress in respect of the aims and objectives of the revised organic farming scheme? Is it still the case that farmers are subjected to a plethora of oversight mechanisms, for certification and other purposes by numerous bodies? Sometimes we find those bodies do not run in parallel but rather contrary to one another. Has there been an increase in the number of organic farmers in the past year or so or, in particular, has there been any progress to entice young farmers into the organic farming scheme? Are we still stuck at a figure of 1% regarding output from organic farming?

How do the witnesses see that developing? Food Wise 2025 sets out a target of 5% whereas other countries, such as Denmark and Austria, have targets of 10% or 15%. Let us cut out the silly ambitions. We can be ambitious but let us be realistic. Can we reach 5% in the next seven or eight years? Other countries are at 15% but they have had a head start. Let us deal with the reality rather than the theory.

Do the witnesses accept that one of the problems in gaining a foothold in the market relates to the price for consumers? For example, a product might cost €1.50 but the organic version is priced at €1.95 or €2.25. It is difficult to make a breakthrough in the absence of extensive and comprehensive marketing and this is where the Bord Bia certification could be of most assistance. Perhaps we could have further examples from the witnesses to give an idea of the nitpicking rules and regulations that effectively put off farmers, or which farmers find of such a bureaucratic nature that they act as a disincentive.

Are organic farmers subject to the independent appeals system that operates in the Agriculture Appeals Office so they can assert their rights when they feel put out or annoyed by a particular result? Can they work through the Agriculture Appeals Office or do they feel it is too cumbersome or that the process takes too long? There are certainly a number of issues.

An excellent report was prepared by the previous committee, of which some of us were members, but it appears to have only reached the waste bin of the Department and got no further. That is a major disappointment. It is as much a rebuff to the members of that outgoing committee as it is to the farmers who expected that some progress would be made. We have to redouble our efforts. We must try to involve the new Minister and ensure he takes this seriously and gets on with implementing a significant portion of the recommendations. To be fair, the witnesses only outlined approximately one third of the recommendations, which is the right thing to do. As they know, they might have 20 recommendations but it is best to get in with three or four key recommendations. I have no doubt the Chairman and the committee will be anxious to ensure that progress is made on behalf of organic farmers.