Mr. Michael Lambert:

Deputy Willie Penrose asked about young farmers. Absolutely nothing is done to encourage them into the agricultural colleges. Approximately 2% of farmers are in the scheme and that has been the figure since 2009. We have statistics for the years from 2009 to 2016 that show it is a revolving door. Farmers enter, stay for five years and leave again. They do not stay the pace. There are so many rules and regulations that they cannot make ends meet.

Organic beef, sheepmeat and pigmeat is not being promoted here. Anything that is promoted is for export. A recent survey showed that 78% of sheep produced entered the conventional market; 22% of production is organic, all for export. An Bord Bia is promoting lamb in Ireland under the Origin Green label. It includes both conventional and organic products.

In response to the questions about appeals, I do not know where we can go, apart from the places we have gone to.

We were asked why we stayed in the sector. Animal health is a big issue. Animals on organic farms are much healthier and we do not need as many veterinary inputs. There are lower costs because we do not need fertilisers and sprays. It goes back to the old style of farming before all of the new fertilisers and new technology came into play.

One reason for Austria's success is that within the organic system in Europe we operate on two levels. In Austria there is a lesser level of regulation than her. Ours is very stringent which makes it very difficult to get farmers to enter the scheme. That is why there is such a revolving door. In Austria there is a big dairy system. We cannot get one off the ground here. It has been tried. There is a drive by the Department and certification bodies to get more grain growers in. They have been trying for some time, but it has not worked.