Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the IFA and the ICMSA for coming in here. We were circulated their papers, read them and are aware of the concerns. The committee is hearing loud and clear the frustration and anger of farm organisations generally, not only in the committee but in the wider political sphere. We see across Europe the frustration about over-regulation. Agri-politics, as I said to someone coming in here, is becoming very divided. Agri-politics is alive and well and I hope it continues to be. It always needs to be at the cutting edge of politics. We have had many great advocates in both organisations who have gone into mainstream politics from an initial interest in agriculture. That is always welcome and great to see. I am somewhat concerned the agri-lobby sector could become divided and subdivided. Senator Daly said we collaborate and work well in the committee. We have many setbacks and frustration but that is part of politics. The tension of the bull wire is always important. I always value the witnesses' organisations and the work they do. Around the election of the new president of the IFA, there was lobbying and fringe meetings. Many of my family and friends are members of the IFA. I saw in that a re-energised IFA - I am not ignoring the ICMSA but I did not observe its election structures as much. That is a good thing. Well done and I wish Mr. Gorman good luck. The IFA is in good stead with him as head. I see a new bounce and vibrancy in IFA membership among the people I know, particularly in the midlands.

The witnesses have spoken about confidence. We have to dust ourselves off, get back and fight again. Over-regulation is a concern. The president of the IFA raised in his submission the investment in slurry, which is expensive, and the importance of time, investment and capital. "Certainty" is the big word because farmers need to know where they will be in terms of milking their cows in four years' time, projecting farm practices and investments, and if it is even worth their while. Those are serious considerations.

Planning permission was raised. I and one other member of this committee also sit on the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government. We have the biggest piece of legislation on planning going through these Houses in the coming weeks. The witnesses' organisations have their political contacts. The Bill is currently with the select committee. There are 1,500 amendments to the Bill being worked through. The witnesses have an opportunity to get a briefing on the Bill, use their contacts with their legal people here and engage with the planning institute and other organisations on shaping the outcomes of issues around the Planning and Development Bill. It is not good enough to have people objecting for the sake of objecting.

We all have a responsibility in terms of water. That has been emphasised. A big takeaway for me tonight is the issue around fair distribution of responsibility. There was a talk the day before yesterday about wells from the UCD environmental group. It highlighted issues relating to wells, including rural and also waterways in urban areas. There are real challenges around quality of water. It is about having a fair, balanced playing field in distribution of responsibility for delivery of water for agriculture, human use or whatever.

I am with the witnesses. It is important they are here and talking to us. It is important they get heated and exercised because that keeps us on our toes and that is not a bad thing. Do the witnesses have any statistics on issues around planning and the number of planning applications? Do they see trends in certain counties? There are 31 planning authorities. It helps our case for looking at them. I sit on the joint Oireachtas committee on planning so am fairly up on that subject and hugely interested in it. If there are serial objectors, we need to look at that. That is not that difficult to find out. We can access much of the information on the board's website.

I think there are real opportunities in the planning and development Bill, which is on Committee Stage, so it is early in the process. There are opportunities for agriculture in a whole range of things like that or rural housing. There are a lot of challenges in rural and agricultural life that the witnesses and the members of their organisations have an interest in. My final point is again to the IFA. It says the European Commission is currently undertaking a Europe-wide public consultation, and states that it is critical Ireland uses the opportunity to stress the critical importance of the derogation to Ireland and emphasise the long-term retention and so on for the whole industry. I accept and understand that. What more would they like the committee to do? How can we collaborate more? I do not think they need to convince us of the importance of the derogation. How can we collaborate more strongly to make a case? We cannot give up on politics or processes. We have to work within them to maximise, and bring people together rather than subdivide and divide because we are going nowhere if we do that. I say well done. I am really interested in their submissions and they should keep the pressure on.