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

Mr. McCormack spoke about the eco-scheme and the difficulties in relation to farmers. To give Mr. McCormack the figures we have, 91% of all farmers have qualified under the new eco-scheme already. They do not have to do any other measure because they have over the 10%. Then 4% of farmers have between 7% and 10%, so they have to do one measure. Where is the big problem about the eco-scheme that Mr. McCormack talks about?

My next question is for Mr. Rushe. He spoke about the new system coming in under CAP. I will nail my colours to the mast because I have seen a lot of farmers. He talked about BISS and how it could affect the smaller farmer. We deal with a lot of farmers around the country that might have an entitlement of €80 per hectare. When we look at the new system that is coming and what they will be brought up to on 30 ha, they will probably go from €4,000 to €7,000, which I would not call bad to be honest. I want Mr. Rushe's view on this. Together with every farming organisation over the past number of years, we encouraged young farmers in. They had to do a green certificate and they had to spend time on it. Their payment, and in fairness young farmers were happy with it, when you added the two together would have been roughly €260 to €270 per hectare. I am talking about a young farmer who comes in to farming, does a green certificate and was not out in 2000 or 2001, when the punching of the bullocks was on and if you were unlucky enough to have heifers you got damn all but if you were lucky to be punching cattle twice, you built up €700 or €800 per hectare. Is he telling me that young farmer is not as valuable to us in agriculture as the person who is getting €700 or €800? Is a hectare in Mayo, Kilkenny or Kerry or wherever not to be treated the same, the way we try to treat all farmers with fairness?

My next question is for Mr. Keane, who highlighted the matter of fodder a few weeks ago and was the first to highlight it. So that you all know, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, appeared before the committee today and said he was opening it for the young farmers. Is that not correct Chair?