Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman for allowing me to speak this evening. Like my colleagues, I welcome everyone here and in the audiovisual room. It is probably not a major issue for the constituency I represent in south-west Cork but I am a farmer and I stand by my fellow farmers regardless of where they come from or what is the issue. I have a few questions but I will not keep the witnesses too long. My colleague, Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, mentioned environmentalists. The witnesses know as well as I do that the birds and bees are far ahead with environmentalists than human beings. The witnesses are a prime example. The cost of this has come to them. As has been said, these farmers are fine, honest, hard-working people. There was a trust between the farmer and the State and that trust has been surely been broken.

Has any legal challenge been taken against this decision? I am involved in south west Cork in a legal challenge to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the massive fines applied to farmers in relation to gorse. We have travelled the length and breadth of the country to raise money for that. I remember going back perhaps five years ago, if it was that long, that people affected by the hen harrier issue were in a similar position. Did they ever go forward with a legal challenge? Our challenge is before the courts and awaiting a hearing date. We do not know what the outcome will be, but we will see.

The other farm organisations are out there. Are they working with the witnesses to resolve this? I refer to the IFA, the ICSA, the ICMSA and any others. I hope I did not leave any of them out. What have they been doing all along? Have they been at the side of the IFDL and have they been vocal? They are vocal on many issues and this one is equally important. It affects 4,000 farmers and a farmer is a farmer no matter what is the issue. Coillte, wind turbines and solar energy were mentioned. I do not think farms will go into that area because it is a minefield. There is no regulation for solar farms. One can do what one likes but as soon as the solar farms are granted planning permission, the regulation will come along. We will not go there. I would appreciate answers to the questions I asked. One has to come at this from every angle to assert one's basic human rights.