Ian Marshall (Independent) | Oireachtas source

When we look at the west of Ireland we have suckler farms that are small family businesses and there are not many alternative uses for that land. As much as there are some areas that would have flood plain opportunities and various strategies that could pay for public goods, for the majority it is about doing what they do now but doing it better. My point was not about not paying subsidies to support farming but more about paying farmers for behavioural change whereby they would undertake to do things differently in recognition of climate change issues by virtue of managing their farms or businesses more efficiently and effectively. That in itself would mitigate some of the issues.