Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will go through things as quickly as possible and I thank each of the farm organisations that are here and which have been with us all along, leading us in the right direction in relation to some of the schemes as they have been developed. It looks to me that CAP is losing its value.

When you hear some of our guests stating that more than half of the farmers in the country will not be able to access some of the agri-schemes, it is quite scary. At the same time, we are being told that farming is being blamed for 37% of the emissions, which Mr. Kelleher said. We are not going to get 37% of the money to compensate or to help farmers change.

On ACRES, farm planners are finding it difficult to ensure that they will get all of the plans in before the deadline at the end of November. Has there been any indication from the Minister that there will be an extension? There are 50,000 applications, but only 30,000 will be approved; what will happen to the other 20,000?

What is the proposal for young new farmers? Has there been any talk of a retirement scheme that would provide farmers who want step aside with an incentive to take early retirement and that would bring in new farmers?

Are there proposals under any of the schemes to help beef finishers achieve earlier slaughter dates, given that the Department sees this as a key element in reducing emissions and that finishing cattle earlier is unaffordable at the current beef and cattle ration prices?

Mr. McCormack said that a proposal relating to solar panels was put forward. Is that going to go ahead? Why did it not go ahead? Is there any indication one way or the other? There has been much talk about encouraging farmers - and everyone else in fairness - to use solar. This would have been an ideal opportunity for that to happen. I would appreciate if the representatives from the IFA or the ICSA, or anyone else who is present, could answer those questions.