Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief because I really want to hear the witnesses.

It is important that we get a message out from this meeting today that the new CAP is focusing on delivering better environmental outcomes. No one is in doubt about that and no one is disputing it. It is not that farmers or the agricultural community are against that. I would like to hear the witnesses' views on the alignment of the new CAP with what is the European Green Deal. That is the political reality we are in. While we are talking here as politicians and while the witnesses are representatives of the agriculture community, the Government and our representatives at the table in Brussels ultimately need to be aware that there is a commitment cost to the green deal. It has to be compatible and aligned with any reform of the CAP. That is important and nobody is doubting it. The written submission of the president of the IFA states farmers who do not participate in the ecosystems could lose 30% of their single farm payment and that this is completely unacceptable and ignores the huge efforts of these farmers. I agree with the IFA on that. The witnesses might tease it out. I am interested in hearing how we can align the commitment to the EU green deal with a reformed CAP. That is the concise question to which I would like to hear responses.