Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 1 December 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Common Agricultural Policy and Young Farmers: Engagement with Macra na Feirme

Photo of Tim LombardTim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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I thank the president. I do not think there are any more members who wish to contribute. I will ask the president one more question before we finish. We are 19 months down the line since the pandemic started. Macra na Feirme is an activity-based organisation that I was very much involved in as a younger man, such as in drama, Dublin city talent, debating and public speaking. They are all very important parts of what Macra na Feirme's ethos is, including farm tasks. The organisation would traditionally be in the centre of running its competitions at this time. The pandemic has had a significant impact on the membership. Will Mr. Keane give us an update on how they have managed over the past 19 months? Online has been one way but how has the membership, which is quite large, managed both physically and mentally over the past 19 months regarding the lockdown? How have the changes in technology benefited Macra na Feirme? Will he sum up on that and we will then close the meeting?