Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I am shocked the Department is actually endorsing this directive. I am not surprised Eamon Ryan would because climate action will go with anything at the moment. The writing is on the wall if this is not nailed for the people with the soils of lesser quality. That is my opinion based on what has been stated today. I do not know what flexibility the witnesses are talking about. In my opinion, there is only one flexibility that I would go for and that is just to nail this at the beginning. I am not saying it will be the fault of the Department, but the problem will arise down the road. The single farm payment was mentioned. It will be the gun to the head in this scenario, where farmers will be told they have to do X, Y and Z and if they do not, they will not get the payment, no more than what is coming in now.