Dr. Kevin Smyth:

There is evidence of land abandonment on some commonages, where there is no evidence of agricultural activity and no animals. The encroachment of scrub is also an issue. I can understand the point the Deputy makes about the need to maintain the forage area so that the payments can be maintained, but the inspectors are required to comply with the EU regulations. If the land is abandoned or there is scrub encroachment, the system must reflect that, and the land parcel identification system must reflect the state of the land. That is where the problem lies and the Deputy is right to state we do need more sheep on the hills. On that point the issue is activity.