Mr. Tadhg Buckley:

In fairness, I think the Deputy’s points are well made. He mentioned the CAP and that side of it. One of the key weaknesses in terms of the whole direction from an EU policy perspective, under the green deal and the farm-to-fork initiatives, particularly under the last European Commission, was the lack of funding put aside. Specifically on CAP, when we looked at the eco-schemes put in place, and Senator Noonan will be fully familiar with this area, that was existing funding that was reused in terms of an environmental perspective. There is no issue at all with putting funding into and awarding farmers for taking part in eco-schemes. The particular issue we had was that it was existing funding that was recycled. It was not new funding. It was funding taken from the old CAP and put aside for those eco-schemes.

One of the key things we need to do from an environmental funding perspective is to get new funding on the table, like the portion of the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund, as we said in our submission. Additionally, from a European perspective, when we look at the CAP, the proposed cut has not gone through yet but if the European Commission’s proposals came to pass, the new CAP funding would probably reduce funding to Ireland before the Government has the opportunity to fill the hole of over 20%. There is a huge issue there in terms of putting funding aside for that eventuality. One of the real concerns farmers have is when they hear they about need to reduce this aspect but are told they will be looked after and be given funding. The track record on that is very poor from a State perspective.

Turning to the point made about the protein, it is also valid. If we were to take the example of average livestock in Ireland, more than 90% of their diet today comes from grass or forage. About 10%, or a small bit less, does not come from grass or forage. A chunk of that, then, comes from cereals, some of which are Irish and some imported. We then have a protein portion, which livestock require for part of their diet, especially when indoors during the spring. The non-ruminants, poultry and pigs, require it as well. The solutions here are often soya-based, and these are imported because soya beans cannot be grown in Europe. There are, though, opportunities there from a protein perspective. When we look at research and technology, we need to look at the likes of beans and these sorts of crops. We already have protein aid scheme funds going into it, but we need to do more on it and develop better ways to allow us to grow those crops in Ireland. We could then include them in feedstuffs to eliminate what the Deputy spoke about. This is a win-win situation because it can reward farmers in terms of alternative methods of crops they can grow and improve our overall sustainability credentials by reducing our dependence on imported feed. This is not as high as people think it is because the vast majority of livestock are actually grass-based or forage-based.