Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the farmer representative bodies for coming in. I have a few points I want to make, and one single question that is not from me but from a group of farmers in the west. When I said I was meeting the boys here - and they are all boys, I did not mean that as a pun - I said I would put their question to the committee.

This morning, the committee had a very good engagement with officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. While we talked about the issues around the ecosystem, there was very little debate about the social dimension of this CAP. I want to raise this with the witnesses because it is very important. From communication and engagements with the European Parliament and the negotiating teams, it is clear there will not be a compromise on the social dimension in the CAP. When we refer to a social dimension we mean employment law and so on. It is very important that the farmer representative bodies are aware of this and keep their eye on the ball. The witnesses might share with us some of their views on that.

There is another issue I am particularly interested in, and I will direct this question to the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association. An article in the Irish Farmers Journallast weekend touched on the INHFA's campaign on the farm retirement scheme and Natura payments under CAP. I am aware that we are restricted for time but perhaps the witnesses could flesh that out a little bit because it is very important.

On the CAP negotiations generally, the challenge will be to align sustainable farming with EU climate ambitions. That is the nub of the issue and the difficulty. We know the CAP negotiators must cut a deal. Let us be honest. A deal will be cut and it is important that we advocate for equality and safeguards for our economic and environmental performance.

My question was suggested to me by a group of farmers from the west. Consider, for example, a farm with 20 cattle on approximately 40 acres or about 16 ha. A number of farmers in Ireland solely outwinter their cattle, are not overstocked and do not put out slurry or chemical fertiliser. I emphasise that point and that these places do exist. Will it be permissible for such farmers to outwinter their stock in ring feeders, for example, with hay or silage? We know that with cross-compliance checks this has not been permitted. There are farmers who are successfully operating very sustainable smallholdings and supplementing other income. We are going to see cross-compliance checks, including with regard to the social dimension. I ask this question on behalf of that group of farmers.

Will that be permitted under the new CAP arrangements? Will the prohibition be lifted? These farmers are not putting slurry on the ground and they have relatively good land. They have been successfully farming and outwintering cattle all year around. They have very few veterinary interventions. These are successful, sustainable and small-time farmers. How can they be assured that they can continue to operate? I would like Mr. O'Donnell to respond because that is an important issue.

I want to refocus. I take on board the message the witnesses have given us and the points they have made. I ask the representatives of the INHFA to address those two critical points.