Mr. Henry O'Donnell:

I would like to come back on a few points. Deputy Michael Collins has first-hand experience of what organic farmers are up against. The committee should listen very carefully to what he says. There are certain basic stumbling blocks preventing the development of organic farming, which the representatives present have outlined today. We will not solve these major stumbling blocks by working around the edges of the current scheme. It really needs to be looked at in detail. If it continues as it is going, it will discourage even more farmers.

As Deputy Collins mentioned, that cohort in 2018 were all potential organic farmers and were willing to enter a scheme, but 110 of them did not get in. They paid a professional to help them draw up an organic plan. They paid a certification body to certify that plan as being appropriate. They then spent a considerable amount of their time to be certified as having done organic training at a significant cost to themselves. In addition, they also farmed organically for nine months after their application until they were told they were unsuccessful. They purchased expensive organic feed. They started small tillage operations in their farm.

What was done to those farmers was criminal. It is no wonder that we did not get the 500 applicants this time. I am sure every one of those farmers told another ten farmers around them of the horrendous experience they had. Somebody needs to get a grip on this and take some control over it to ensure that it never happens to a farmer again. It would not be tolerated in any sector nor should it be.

Deputy Carthy made some points on commonage land. We have been told by the certifying parties that because it is commonage land and a range of owners are involved it cannot be classed as organic. I believe somebody with a bit of ambition could look at that. Where I live in Inishowen I am surrounded by commonages. They never received pesticides or fertilisers. They have been totally organically managed in my living memory. Farmers are grazing there to protect the biodiversity and are producing a fabulous product. If this scheme cannot be adjusted to accommodate that pristine landscape, there is not much ambition in our organic farming scene.