Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 6 December 2016

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Effect of Bad Weather on Grain Harvest: Irish Farmers Association

4:20 pm

Mr. Liam Dunne:

It does, yes, and that seems to be a problem. It seems to be that it is kicked back and forth. They say 100% and we and the officials ask for 25%. We have to leave it back to the committee and the Minister to try to sort that out. We will keep pushing it.

On the renewable heat incentive, give us the opportunity to grow other crops to supply energy that would not have to be imported and we will do it. That is all we ask. We can do it. Given the opportunity to grow something that has a profit, why we would continue to grow grain, which has very minimal profit in it, when we could grow something else which would be of benefit and reduce imports? All we need is a chance to do that and we would take it up willingly.