Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I invite Deputy Martin Kenny to propose the motion.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I move:

That the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine notes:- the financial strain under which many farmers are living at present;

- the difficulties faced over the past year with price volatility;

- the rising cost of fertiliser and other agricultural inputs;

- the high level of commitment by Irish farmers to environmental and greening measures;

- the fact that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine underspent its budget in 2016;

- that 85% of GLAS payments are paid in the first tranche, with the remaining 15% withheld until the second tranche;

- the commitment from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine that all participants in the schemes would receive their first tranche payments before the end of 2016;and calls on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine - to immediately ensure that the Department pays the first tranche of GLAS and AEOS moneys to all participants in the schemes;

- to ensure that the second tranche payments are timely and efficiently paid as promised in the second quarter of 2017;

- to ensure that farmers are given an explanation for the breach of the farmers' charter which has taken place in regard to these payments; and

- to ensure that measures are taken to ensure that such a delay will not occur again.

Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I invite Senator Tim Lombard to move the amendment to the motion.

Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "That the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine notes:" and substitute: - the financial strain under which many farmers are living at present;

- the difficulties faced over the past year with price volatility;

- the rising cost of fertiliser and other agricultural inputs;

- the high level of commitment by Irish farmers to environmental and greening measures;

- the fact that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine underspent its budget in 2016;

- that 85% of GLAS payments are paid in the first tranche, with the remaining 15% withheld until the inspection and validation process is complete;

- that GLAS payments are paid in two stages, an 85% advance payment being made when administrative checks are carried out, with the remaining 15% balancing payment withheld until the inspection and validation process is complete;

- the commitment from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine that all participants in the schemes would receive their first tranche payments before the end of 2016;

- the payment of €110 million under GLAS to date, with payments continuing on a weekly basis;

- that all eligible applicants under the third tranche of GLAS will be accepted into the scheme, bringing overall participation levels to 50,000 farmers;and calls on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine:- to immediately ensure that the Department pays the first tranche of GLAS and AEOS moneys to all participants in the schemes;

- to ensure that the second tranche payments are timely and efficiently paid as promised in the second quarter of 2017;

- to ensure that farmers are given an explanation for the breach of the farmers' charter which has taken place in regard to these payments; and

- to ensure that measures are taken to ensure that such a delay will not occur again.

Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Acceptance of the motion, as amended, will be reported to both Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann. I propose that a copy of the agreed motion be forwarded to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Is that agreed? Agreed.