Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Chairman and Vice-Chairman on their appointment. I also warmly welcome the Minister to the meeting.

One might ask what is a fella like myself, who lives in Dún Laoghaire where I can look out at the sea, doing at a meeting of a Joint Committee on Agriculture and the Marine. First and foremost, my family are steeped in agriculture and horticulture coming from both the lovely Grangecon in County Wicklow, Fontstown in County Kildare, which has very famous landbanks, and of course Rathdowney in County Laois. I studied horticulture and was the beneficiary of a Department of Agriculture scholarship so I know the importance of apprenticeships and studying agriculture, horticulture and forestry. I would say to the Minister, while he has not touched on the matter today, that it is really important, in terms of accessing horticulture, agriculture and forestry, that we have synergies and partnerships and how we tap into people who wish to carry on these great professions. It is a challenge and it is a particular challenge for the Minister, whom I know and wish well.

Earlier the Minister talked about the CAP. I am conscious that the citizens of the EU expected CAP to make a strong contribution to caring for the environment and climate. Anyone who has studied CAP recently will have seen its new direction and know a great emphasis is placed on the environment and climate. Of course, there is the challenging dilemma of imposing new environmental constraints. It is important that CAP supports farmers to achieve the agroecological transition. Again, there is a heavy emphasis on greening in CAP and earlier the Minister mentioned "green architecture". Quite obviously there is a challenge and there is a desire politically, nationally and across the member states to conserve and enhance biodiversity.

We talk about rebalancing the food chain, climate change action, environmental care, preserving our landscapes and our biodiversity and supporting renewal along the River Shannon. There is also a great emphasis on food quality, health and maintaining vibrant rural communities and rural areas.

The Minister referred in his opening statement to ecosystems. We all know that the eco-schemes are focused on care of our environment and climate. The Minister said, "Perhaps the most significant issue for Ireland and some other member states is the potential loss of unspent funds when it comes to implementation of the eco-schemes under pillar 1." Will he elaborate on that comment? There are opportunities to be taken if funding is being underspent. There may be deadlines and cut-off points but we should be tapping into those unspent moneys.

The Minister spoke about the challenges of devising a green architecture and noted that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. There is a lot of work to be done in that area and I am interested to hear more about the direction in which he sees it going.

Other speakers have raised the issue of the suckler cow payment scheme. I will not say much about it other than to ask what the plans are in that regard. Another issue that everybody raises is what the plans might be for GLAS. I hope the Minister can address some of these points. I congratulate him on his appointment and wish him every success.