Eileen Lynch (Fine Gael)
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I thank Teagasc and the Department for their presentations. As we are all aware, the Irish tillage industry is facing massive challenges. While the industry inevitably needs aid, it needs more than that to make it sustainable. On the vision for the future of tillage, the witnesses pointed out different issues. How are we going to put that plan into action?

Aid has been predicted and increased. It is important to target that aid at tillage farmers to ensure that genuine tillage farmers access it, as opposed to dairy farmers who take out extra land for derogation purposes. We must ensure the aid goes directly to tillage farmers. In saying that, I am conscious that I come from a dairy background rather than a tillage background. We have to respect the fact that the tillage industry is in crisis. Three weeks ago, I attended an IFA meeting in the Killashee Hotel at which there were about 1,000 people in attendance. We are aware of the difficulties and I want to know how we will fix them. Will any aid granted be targeted directly at tillage farmers? Will the witnesses ensure that will be the case?