Dr. Aoibhinn N? Sh?illeabh?in:

On that, there was something specific that came out from the farmers who presented to the citizens' assembly. We tried to ensure we had as many diverse farming voices as possible. We had eight different organisations come in to address us. They all said that the schemes that are there should try to incorporate as many farmers as possible, if not all farmers, because all farmers can contribute to biodiversity and to curbing biodiversity loss. That is something that was then emphatically recommended by the members of this citizens' assembly. It was recommended that there be no restriction on the numbers and also that people should be rewarded for the work done. There is a lot of work under way at Teagasc to discuss the specific biodiversity markers we need to evolve as our understanding of biodiversity improves. A land use map is also going to be made for the country, which was a recommendation of this citizens' assembly, because what is happening in the environment in Wexford is obviously very different from what is happening in west Mayo. That is equally the case for the farming advice that should be given to farmers in those areas. It needs to be specific.