Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I welcome the witnesses. As politicians, we are good at giving out or highlighting issues, but a few things have to be acknowledged. On the organic scheme, we have to acknowledge it when people roll up their sleeves and put in the work. I have seen Jack Nolan at 12 midnight in town halls, and it showed in the number of people who were there. It is very important to bring the information to farmers.

With regard to the section dealing with the single farm payment or basic payment, or whatever we want to call it, in fairness, over the past few months, the Department has put out to everyone the areas covered by the eco-scheme next year, which is a huge help, so the Department is fairly well ahead of itself in that way. It is good to see that 99% of the payments are out there at the moment. While I might not agree with all parts of it, any time I contact Pat Morrison, Jack Nolan, Fran Morrin, Peter Harte or Paul Dillon, I must commend them for how they deal with the issues. We are good at giving out but when something is done fairly right, it needs to be acknowledged.

I will go through the different parts and I ask any of the witnesses to respond. On the eco-scheme, there was a piece of farming for nature where, with regard to mountains, it showed that although it would be a fairly eco-friendly area, there was a lack of drains, bushes or trees.

Is that being fixed? It is down to 2% or 3% of all farmers. Some 97% have one measure. Will the witnesses bring me up to speed on that? I do not know which of them will be dealing with the forgotten farmer. I saw the proposals that came out up until now. Even the witnesses who were here earlier raised that there were six different things, of which they might fit into five but were caught on one. I could not get anyone who would fit into it. Is the Department tweaking that?

Regarding the organics check, more than 2,000 people are involved. There has been talk about budgets. I presume that all of those people will be accepted, provided their plans are okay. Will the witnesses comment on that?

On the matter of ACRES, I thank Mr. Morrison for answering queries on numerous occasions. Some 16,000 or 18,000 extra are involved. I know it will involve extra work for the Department to get everyone in. It is imperative that funds are available to make sure all those farmers are looked after. One thing which I have spoken about before regarding ACRES has cropped up on numerous occasions. Ms Carey mentioned working with the National Parks and Wildlife Service. There is a significant problem with special areas of conservation, SAC. If I was not on an SAC, I could fence off an area in a riparian zone of up to 2 ha, which would get me €3,000. If the land is designated, people cannot put down this fence and are caught and unable to get that money. That has cropped up in several places. I am not talking about mountains but about lowlands around the country. I sent an email to the NPWS, the Department and to other bodies. It will not be solved this minute but when ACRES 2 opens, we need to make sure that is resolved.

On top of that, as I am sure every other Deputy will say, breeding waders, swans, and every other type of bird is coming up in places where people have never seen birds in their life. I do not know if whoever has done that for the Department was dreaming. We have proof from different areas. I have talked to people in Mullingar and Tipperary. Apparently, there are breeding waders in my own area. I do not know where they are. We had cranes along the river years ago. In my opinion, some of this is anecdotal evidence. The Department needs to have a company that does not have a vested interest looking at these surveys. The NPWS needs to be able to back them up. Dr. Andy Bleasdale needs to be able to show us how these figures stand up. I am not blaming the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, because it can only go by the information given to it. All the witnesses can go by is the legislation in front of them. Tweaking on fencing in designated areas has to be done before the next ACRES. It is making it virtually impossible for those farmers. They might comment on that.

They might also address the young farmers' scheme. It is increasing to 50 ha next year.

Regarding the BDGP and BEEP, in fairness to them, they went round the country for the CAP and organics. Some of the Department's people went round local areas for ACRES. A lot of information is available, with a lot of money to draw down. It is important that the information is getting to farmers and that they understand it. I encourage the witnesses to look at this over the next months, even before finalising the CAP payment. I know they have looked at Tuam and other areas around the country. It is important to keep the momentum of bringing this information to various areas to help farmers. When we meet them, they say that they did not know something. The more information is given, the better farmers understand it, and that is important.

I welcome the TAMS. Ms Carey mentioned equines as well. Do people involved in the equine sector need a herd number or just an equine number to get TAMS?

I thank the witnesses for their presentation on tuberculosis. Under this new proposal, cattle over 36 months will need extra testing for TB. Is the other testing coming down the road or has it gone? Farmers do not want drip-fed information today with another bid being announced in 24 months. How long does this go for? I refer to farmers whose cattle get TB. Most farmers across the country have a job, which is like two legs of a stool. Their job and a bit of farming keeps them sustainable in a rural area. If they are working when the TB hardship money comes available, they do not get the money. They are as much entitled to it as anyone. The job might be feeding their houses, but the hardship money is for the cattle. I cannot understand why that has not been addressed.

The witnesses talked about moving tests forward. How far forward can it be moved? Farmers say that if they have tests in April or May, it can be moved forward. Is that six months forward or backwards, whichever way it goes? How flexible is this without costing farmers extra money?