Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I was at a social farming event this morning down near Elfin. It is great to see that how that has worked with the small bit of funding that it gets. The thing for farmers at the moment is that they might not see a person from one end of the week to the other especially if they are living on their own and we need to try to sort that out. I have been talking to MEPs, etc. and I know that the wheels have started in Europe for the new CAP from 2027 onwards. Have the witnesses gone to Europe with their findings outlining what they believe is required? I spoke to Ciarán Mullooly earlier. I understand that the new Agriculture Commissioner is from Luxembourg and he is a farmer. They had a meeting today. This committee and people like the witnesses need to be getting in the door to try to get things included for the future, as Dr. Farrell has said. Some might say that 2027 is a long way away, but it is only around the corner. Once those decisions are made, they will be done and dusted. Do the witnesses go to Europe to meet them out there and inform them of what is going on? What sort of reception are they getting?