Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 28 May 2025

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food

Engagement with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

2:00 am

Photo of William AirdWilliam Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Is the €32 million to be paid to the tillage sector as part of the budget this year, which is €40 per hectare, going to be ring-fenced for the next five years?

The crop diversification rules appear to be having a negative impact on tillage. This is one for the officials that came up with this. Many farmers are reducing their crop areas. We can see that every day. They will not have to comply with these rules, though, as it now appears the rules are not required in Ireland and, therefore, there should be leniency for sectors that are in trouble. Will the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine try to remove that rule from the CAP?

In case my time runs out, I want to move on to TB.