Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the representatives from Macra na Feirme. I commend Mr. Healy on showing there is a positive aspect to farming for the younger generation and ensuring that we have a workforce going forward. We are all aware that labour is a scarce commodity in the agriculture sector. I have listened to the questions asked by other members and I heard an interesting point Mr. Healy made that was not picked up. I can see where he is coming from.

Outside of transport, agriculture seems to be the next sector hit in this country for carbon and climatic change issues. We are considered a non-industrialised nation. Britain had an industrial revolution in the 1800s and 1900s and there was growth in the likes of Germany. Are we now in a situation, as a country, whereby we have to carry an extra burden to clean up the damage that has been caused? Do we actually carry a heavier burden in cleaning up the air for the sake of other countries that created the problem, and continue to do so? That is a good point.

We are going down the road of imposing further conditions on farming practices and so forth. Are we being the extra good boys again in the EU family compared to the Dutch, Danish or French farmers? Are we once again leading the pack in putting in stringent conditions about going forward in our farming practices? That is where we are at the moment. Bigger penalties are coming on to us straight away, when other countries might not be carrying out the same guidelines as regards climatic change.

Would the witnesses further comment on their views on anaerobic digesters? I ask for further comment because I was disappointed to hear Deputy Eamon Ryan does not think they were a good solution for creating green energy. He is saying they are going to create more damage. My understanding about anaerobic digesters was that they were there to reduce the spillage of liquid manure into lands and produce green energy. I ask for further comment on that. Are the witnesses happy with the Government's plan? I know from people going abroad that, in Germany for example, nearly every farmer has his own anaerobic digester, no matter what size the farm. Half of those farmers' work day was keeping the thing going. I asked the former Minister, Deputy Naughten, what was his plan for Ireland and he said, in the grand system, it would not be viable to put an anaerobic digester in every farmer's yard. That is why the current Government has proposed regionalisation for anaerobic digestion. I do not know is it every parish or what catchment area applies. Is Macra na Feirme happy enough with the general policy as to the delivery of these projects?

Everyone is telling us what to do. The Chairman should also be aware that climate change means the climate is changing in the seasons. Should we not be reviewing practices as well? We had to wait until last Sunday before the tractor and tank could go back out in the field. Should we go back to the situation of giving trust back to the farmer? There was livestock out around me on Christmas Day because the grass was growing. Should we go back and let the farmers, who are the keepers of the land, know how to practise proper farming? Are there any areas we should be reviewing?

We spoke about young farmers getting involved and taking over land. What incentives would Macra na Feirme propose for older people? We do not want to push them off the land. There was a farm retirement scheme at one stage and I do not think it was attractive from a monetary point of view. I do not know if it worked. There are 50 year old farmers whose fathers are still the bosses on the farm, or if not the bosses, the deeds in the solicitor's office are in the father's name. I thank the witnesses for their time.