Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I wish to talk about the Monaghan project. I often explain in this committee and others that Monaghan is strange, even in agricultural terms. Traditionally, our holdings were very small, which made them unprofitable, which in turn has meant that farmers have largely moved into areas such as poultry or mushrooms, which are very intensive and considered environmentally damaging. However, if we did not have them we probably would not have the communities around them because there is no other employment or economic activity in the area. We therefore have to try to get the balance right.

As for hedgerows, I think the decline over the period has been visible throughout the country. I get the sense, however, that there is now a greater recognition of the importance of hedgerows. Maybe there has been a U-shaped trajectory and we are seeing a resurgence of hedgerows. I have been taken aback by the quality of the hedges that are there. Ms Clerkin says they are not delivering, even those that are there now, compared with ten years ago. She mentioned pesticides as maybe one of the influences, but what are the other influences? Why would that be the case?