Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to come back on a number of points. First, I asked a question that farmers from the west posed and I did not get an answer. This is not a politician's question; these are farmers' questions. A small farmer related a simple scenario involving a farm of 40 acres and I am going to tell him I could not get an answer, so that is of concern to me.

Second, on the social dimension, I share Mr. Cullinan's views and I articulated them this morning. I am not suggesting further layers be added. I totally agree with Mr. Cullinan. However, the issue is not discussed anywhere in the papers before us today, nor was it mentioned by any of the farm representative groups. I am deeply concerned by that. I raised the matter with the Department and it has agreed to provide a paper or two on it. The reality is that from the documentation we have seen, this is going to be an issue. It is an issue and, therefore, it is important that we prepare for it because this is the social dimension. We talk about the eco dimension but there is a social dimension also. I fully agree with Mr. Cullinan. We are not at loggerheads and I will continue to support him in all of that.

I want to go to back to this issue, although I know other members want to contribute.

I posed the scenario of 20 cattle on approximately 40 acres. The farmer is sustainable, is not using veterinary medicines and has been very successful. One farmer is 16 years at it and is making a living, so it can be done. It is not overgrazing, but feeding all year round. The land sustains that. There is no seepage, no silage and no fertiliser. It is, effectively, organic farming without organic certification. Who is supporting them? Will they be allowed to continue to operate the way they have successfully operated, as I think they should be, in a very old, organic and holistic way?