Mr. Con Traas:

I was listening to Dr. Moran. I would say there is fear among farmers. There is a herd mentality. If you are another dairy farmer or another beef farmer in one of the big groups and there is a fodder crisis, something will be done. If you are a forester, as has happened with the ash dieback, they will tell you to cut down the ash and bury it or whatever. It is your problem. Different sectors have more political clout. It is safer to be in the big group than in the small group. That is the reality of it.

As well as that fear, there is a certain amount of disinformation, and it is still being moved around among the farmers through the farm organisations. I am a member of the IFA and I am a committee member of the IFA. It bothers me sometimes that stuff they know is not exactly accurate is being put out through the Irish Farmers' Journalto stoke up the fear to get the result they want.