Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses who are on site and those who are joining us online. It is good to have them here.

On organics, I was very happy to hear my colleague Deputy Martin Browne raise that issue. I note the scheme was opened to farmers today. Let us hope there is a good uptake. All members of this committee are in agreement that we are good at what we do in Ireland in agriculture. There is a proud tradition in that regard. Members are also in agreement that we can do much more in organics to catch up with our European counterparts. I accept Dr. Moore's point that we need to do that in a way that is sustainable and achievable. I take his point that achieving a 5% share that is long-lasting and stable is better than lurching towards some bigger percentage.

I have a question for BirdWatch Ireland with regard to the Department and its obligations under the nature and water directives. Is the Department meeting its stated objectives under the needs assessment? On the CAP strategic plan, the witnesses can correct me if I am wrong but my sense is that there is a large pot of money in Europe that we are not fighting for on behalf of farmers in Ireland for the types of schemes that are going to pay nature dividends and, as stated by Mr. Stanley-Smith, help farmers to do good things. Is that true?