Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

That is fair. I hear about this next issue day in, day out. For a farmer who has 10 ha, certification costs approximately €600. With Bord Bia, if the farmer is not in organics, it is free. Why is there not a scheme to encourage farmers whereby they would not have to pay that €600? If they had 60 or 70 ha the fee would be €1,000 or €1,200. It is a fierce front-load on a small operator with what they will get out of it. What are the witnesses' comments on that?