Dr. M?che?l ? Cinn?ide:

I will come in briefly. On the whole question of the debate, if one thinks of where we are now compared with where we were last October, when we had the day with the farmers, we seem to be in a different place. It seems now to be more adversarial, as Senator Boylan mentioned. I will refer to page 82 in the assembly report. One of the speakers from whom we heard was Ms Aideen McGloin from the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association. Her words are summarised in the report and she made an awful lot of sense. All of the people from the farming organisations adopted a slightly different approach on the day. They were not confrontational and it was not the kind of debate we have seen in recent weeks and months. Ms McGloin made one simple and important comment, which was that farmers follow policy. That is also what Mr. Joyce said earlier.

This committee will in the coming weeks get responses from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to the recommendations in respect of agriculture. It will be interesting to see what approach the Department takes. One approach we might expect is defensive and minimalist, with backs to the wall and not giving an inch, etc. That has been the tone of much of what has gone on in recent times. A different approach is what people here are talking about. We are taking about a more all-of-government approach that takes the environment, water, the climate and so on into the heart of agricultural policy. We should look out for the signals that are coming back from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. We may challenge it a little more, if necessary, and try to set a tone that urges working together. It is a challenge for the committee and the Departments but it is doable.