Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman for his indulgence and for arranging this meeting. I thank the guests for being here. I have a number of short questions because each of the organisations has set out its case very distinctly and raised the concerns of its members very clearly and comprehensively. I have a small number of clarifications or side questions.

I refer to low emissions and slurry spreading. Mr. Cullinan made an important point in respect of the distinction between something being a requirement under law and being an eligible product in terms of TAMS or other grant aid schemes. Could he tell us if he has an idea of the percentage of derogation farmers who currently use the LESS-type machinery? What is the gap that needs to be filled? Does he think that the TAMS programme or another CAP scheme could be utilised in such a way so as to meet the same objective, namely, that all farmers who have land suitable for this type of machinery would use it within the next number of years?

We often come across cases that involve a Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine issue but fall somewhat under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Do the witnesses have a sense of the interaction between the two Departments and whether the process is suitable for the task, which is obviously very important? We are dealing with crucially important issues regarding water quality, the future of family farms and wider environmental concerns. It is important that we get this right. It would be useful if we got a sense of how the interaction between the two Departments operates and whether there could be a more streamlined or efficient way to deal with this at an official level.

A point of discussion among Macra members has been the role anaerobic digestion currently plays and the potential for it to resolve some of the issues about which the Department has concerns. Are there other mechanisms? Can anaerobic digestion play a bigger part? What would need to happen in order for that to be the case?

Mr. McCormack outlined very articulately the concerns of his members. He gave an example of a 100-acre dairy farm. As we approach all of the other debates, notwithstanding nitrates, the future of CAP and all of the discussions that are taking place, are there supports in place? What would need to happen to allow the farmer he referenced to diversify somewhat? Rather than intensifying a dairy herd, there could be other mechanisms in place in order for that farmer to make a profit and perhaps balance some of the concerns the Departments have in respect of nitrates and emissions.

I do not know if Mr. O'Donnell or Mr. Condon is best placed to answer my next question. I refer to non-derogation farmers. I have strong sympathy for the case Mr. Condon and Mr. O'Donnell have raised in respect of hill farmers and others, in particular commonage farmers who have to adhere to rules that will, in some cases, breach other rules that have been put in place and create a very difficult legal and practical situation. Does their organisation have any proposals in terms of how non-derogation farmers, in particular those on peripheral land, can be supported in improving water quality? We have all been on the hills. The water is the freshest one will come across anywhere. It is really important that we protect that. Are there mechanisms, through agri-environmental schemes or otherwise, to ensure that that water is protected into the future? I again thank the Chair for his indulgence and apologise for having to slip out shortly.