Dr. Daire Ó hUallacháin:

We have not seen GLAS. We are working from its proposed recommendations. A new element in GLAS that was not included in previous schemes is the active prioritisation of certain habitats and species. Natura 2000 sites, which account for approximately 14% of the species in question, are deemed to be included among the prioritised sites.

Some of the problem may lie in the fact that GLAS targets habitats and species of conservational concern and that farmers can only be rewarded for income forgone. Undoubtedly, there is a need for further discussion on this matter. If active measures are not incorporated, how will farmers be incentivised to farm as they did heretofore?