Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We got a few emails. Farm organisations will have been involved in the Life project. My understanding is that is voluntary. Is every farm organisation still involved in it or are they out of it? That is a question for every organisation. We got an email today from an MEP which we were talking about before the meeting started. There is a dispute about the information we were given from the Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations, COPA, and an MEP has written back. What interpretation do the witnesses have of the 20% because there is a debate going on about that? Can the 20% come from the State or not? The other part of that email referred to a difference between restoration and rewetting. In my opinion, there is not but I would know the witnesses' views on that. When did the farm organisations become aware of this because it was by chance that we became aware of this so when did all of the farm organisations become aware of it. What has been done up to now about it?

Are the farm organisations going to unite with us? Mr. Dermot Kelleher talked about The Fieldand I know exactly where he is coming from because people with spades tried to reclaim this land and put in stone shores and then diggers came along and they made it better. Is there tick-tacking between farm organisations or is there any tick-tacking with other countries? We are hear that Sweden, Finland and Holland are objecting to it. Is there any tick-tacking going on? Can we nip this in the bud? My understanding is that it is in its infancy. Sweden is getting the Presidency and we hear it will lie idle for six months. Do the witnesses envisage a problem like when you get older and you get the pension? In 2030, it might be that Bord na Mona's bit will cover it and 2040 is in the distance and you might be retired by then but it is something you are clawing at, it is down the road and it is a ferociously hard thing to keep on top of. It could be another generation looking after the land in 2040 or 2050. I am not trying to retire anyone early or anything like that but do the witnesses understand where I am coming from? It is like a long haul of a battle. What tack are we taking? Are the farm organisations going to get more informed about it because other than the papers they have done and what this committee has done, there was not much about it up to the last month? I have no doubt that we will sit as a committee and put our points across.

I will await Ireland's response because my understanding is that it has not gone in yet even though the Minister, Deputy Ryan, thinks it has gone in. I am awaiting that response to see where we are because we are on the back foot. My understanding is that a big decision like that would take the three leaders to meet and a decision would have to be made at Cabinet because this is the future of an awful lot of farms around the country. I would like the witnesses to address all of those questions because I will back to them if they are not answered.