Mr. Colm Hayes:

The low level of organic take-up in Ireland is really a legacy issue, especially relative to other member states. As one of the representatives from Teagasc said earlier, it took ten years to get from 1% to 2% land cover. We are dealing in an entirely different space now. We have a programme for Government commitment and a very ambitious Minister of State who is pushing us hard on this to achieve an increase from 2% to 7.5% in the lifetime of this Government. We are looking forward. We are looking at the drivers that will help us to achieve those goals.

It is clear that the scheme will play a very large part in this, hence the immediate response to the programme for Government commitment with the reopening of the scheme for this year. The intention, subject to funding, is to do something similar for next year. However, they are only some of the levers that can be pulled to achieve the level of land coverage that we want to see.

In respect of organics versus REAP, I can only work off anecdotal evidence. Organic conversion is possibly a slightly larger step for farmers to take when they are sitting with their advisers. It is very important, and I outlined it as one of our key priorities for this year, that we have advisory services in this country that are sufficiently knowledgeable. I believe that they are. However, we must ensure that every adviser is up to the same standard of knowledge on what organic farming means, and what it can mean for a farmer both in terms of the environmental performance and the market performance of the farm. We are putting a huge amount of effort into that, both with Teagasc, the ACA and the private advisers, to make sure that it is understood.

The EU average target of 7.5% in the programme for Government represents an enormous challenge, but absolutely everybody in the Department is fully committed to it. There is a lot of work being done and more will need to be done to achieve that target.

The dairy and tillage piece was very clearly communicated at the start of the scheme by the Minister of State when she said the scheme was being reopened for every farmer who wanted to apply. In the event that it was oversubscribed, it was intended that there would be a ranking and selection that might favour dairy and tillage farmers. As it turned out, the scheme was not oversubscribed. All things being equal, we will accept every farmer. It was very clearly communicated to farmers that if they wanted to apply, regardless of what type of enterprise they had, there would be a place for them within the scheme, depending on subscription numbers. They were strongly encouraged to apply.

The Deputy's question on markets in other countries is one for Bord Bia. I know that its representatives addressed the issue in some detail earlier. I do not want to cut across any answers that may have been given in that respect. I fundamentally agree with the Deputy's point. None of this will be achieved unless the markets are available for the output. That output is not just domestic but international. The figures in our organic strategy plan show that the global market for organics could be north of €220 billion by 2022. There is enormous potential out there. However, potential and realisation can often be two very different matters.

I will not comment on the policy behind the straw chopping scheme. It is a different scheme that is completely outside my area. I do not believe it has had the effects on organics that have been suggested. It is a policy discussion and a question for a Minister. I hope that answers the Deputy's questions.