Mr. Vincent Roddy:

If it is okay, Chair, I would like to bring in Mr. Condon for the question on the organics. He is an organic farmer. I will take the other two questions first, and I will be brief. I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice for the question and for the opportunity of being able to provide clarity. As regards the SAC, special protection area, SPA, and Natura lands, all farmers on those lands will get access to ACRES. They are a priority asset, so they will get access to ACRES. That is a positive. However, that has been the case with all schemes, whether it be REPS, AEOS or GLAS. The issue and the point I was making was that in the other schemes, they got a direct payment in recognition of the fact that those lands were designated and of the cost that the burden of designation imposed on those farmers. This CAP plan and this agri-environmental scheme is the first time we are not going to see a specific payment for that cost. Added into that is the fact that in respect of the good agricultural and environmental condition, GAEC, standards, the 38 activities requiring consent for farmers with designated land has also been subsumed in there. The idea is of recognising the cost of designation and there is a substantial cost. I know we spent money ourselves that other farmers would not have to spend in getting planning permission for fencing. A lot of farmers on designated land would have done the same. It is also important to note when we talk about those costs for farmers on designated land that when you are looking at TAMS, farmers with designated land have to get permission to fence that, which is not included as part of the TAMS grant. Before they put down any posts at all they are probably going to have spent between €2,000 and €4,000 in getting permission to do that. That is something we need to recognise. There is a cost there and I am glad to get the opportunity to clarify that.