Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses from WASG. On a lighter note, I warmly welcome the fact we have members of the IFA, ICMSA, ICSA and INHFA coming to us collectively with a common goal. Maybe the delegates will pass on to their male counterparts in their representative bodies the message that if they work collectively and all sing from the one hymn sheet, they can be a hell of a lot more successful. I say that somewhat in jest, but it is unique to have all the representatives present on a common mission.

I welcome the delegates. Deputy Fitzmaurice and others have mentioned the education aspect. I would like to address it also. I ask the delegates to go back a step further. How can we encourage more of our secondary school students, particularly the female ones, to consider agricultural science? These students are in their formative years. Before students fill out their CAO forms or make career decisions, could there be a campaign to influence them or at least inform them of the benefits of taking up agricultural science at third level? That might sow the seeds at a time when they are needed to encourage more females, in particular, to pursue careers in agriculture.

My partner is chairperson of Westmeath IFA. I still cannot get over the fact that, in 2018, she was the first ever female in the role. From that perspective – I am not being critical – do the representative organisations, which are male dominated, have an agenda to try to encourage more activism on the part of the female farming community?

My last question is on cultural and societal issues. How can we prevent elderly farmers from being very wary about, or dead set against, signing over their land to a daughter for fear that, when she marries, she will change her name? How do we overcome the fear of land no longer being in the family name? This is one of the main barriers preventing succession involving a daughter as opposed to a son.