Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee again. They are probably here more often than some Deputies and Senators and it is good to have them back. I always greatly appreciate their contributions. They give an interesting perspective on farming that is somewhat at odds with some of the other farmer representation bodies and it is very good to hear it, particularly in relation to young farmers. It is laudable what they are looking for in trying to control the cost of leasing and land transfers. There are probably some Members of this House on the extreme left who will be very taken with their proposals but ultimately we live in a free market society and that is something that is going to be very hard to control. The witnesses have to appreciate that on any sides of these transactions, there are two people; one who wants to get his optimum price and another we need to facilitate and help get into farming. The statistics mention 30% of farmers in 2016 being over 65. They are all obviously over 70 now and make up one third of all farmers in the country.

As we get closer to 70 ourselves, we like to think these farmers are very active but at the same time, you would have to wonder how productive those farmers are. Looking at what Mr. Keane has presented, there are obviously some nuances. There is no issue in dairy, whereas it is really pronounced in sheep and cattle. Obviously, the SBCI offers an opportunity. As I have been listening to the witnesses, I think what we need is a regionalised approach or a scheme concentrating on those areas such as peatlands and some of the lands most adversely affected. The likes of Kilkenny does not need any incentives to get more people to farm, but the likes of Longford and Leitrim definitely do. That is where we need it. If we look at what Macra na Feirme wants to do in terms of integration and diversification, there is no lack of ambition. Of the 5% of the farmers who are under 35, none of them are full-time farmers. I would imagine most of them have an off-farm income, which brings in significantly more money than the farm and I am sure their wives would be indignant if they said they were going to go farming full-time. At the same time, it is critically important we protect the family farm and I admire what they are trying to do. Taking a geographic approach to this, is there anything Mr. Keane has seen in Europe that would work?