Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

My family was one of the beneficiaries referred to in the Bill as they received a Land Commission land transfer to which the Bill applies. I should therefore perhaps declare an interest in this matter.

I had dealings on behalf of constituents in this area during the 1980s and 1990s when interest rates were high and some small landholders had received additional plots of land from the Land Commission. This caused them great difficulties as it entailed heavy repayments relative to the income generated from agriculture at that time. Because of some of the conditions under which the land was awarded, it was not always easy for them to realise their assets.

A previous easement scheme afforded the opportunity of buy-out but like many schemes it was a long time coming and then was rushed. This Bill has been a long time in preparation but I hope its impact will be to deal as comprehensively as possible with the entire issue.

This is the era of low interest rates which means that property values have risen. Property prices do not remain static but fluctuate like interest rates. It is better to invest in property of some description than deposit money in a financial institution to earn an interest rate of 1.5%. The future use of land and land speculation must be considered. The EU bureaucrats may ensure there will be very little productive land left in Ireland and the country will be some kind of a national park. One cannot make an economic living in a national park. I once attended a funeral where an American commented on the green scenery to a local who replied that it was a shame the scenery could not be eaten.

I agree the consumer must be serviced and that it is no longer economical to produce food. If that philosophy is followed, the inevitable will happen and people will not remain in the productive agricultural sector but will seek employment elsewhere where there are better pay and conditions. This would be a disaster for the food sector but the trend is already apparent. There has been an increase in the amount of food imported from non-EU member states, food which is often relabelled as being produced in the EU. This will have a serious impact on the agricultural sector which will become debilitated and we will become reliant on overseas produce. Problems will arise in this case when the French or Liverpool dockers go on strike, for instance. We will then regret our neglect of consideration of land use.

I suggest agricultural practices can move with the times, adopt new technology and stay competitive. However, competing with the massive factory farms in Ecuador, Brazil and Argentina is not an even match. It will be said that the European Union is a wealthy community and that it is unfair to its competitors. It would be a pity to allow ourselves be lulled into a false sense of security arising from this notion. We could discover we are no longer masters of our own destiny at a time when international interest rates might increase dramatically. We could lose control of the production of food with an inability to supply the home market or any other market. Over 90% of produce grown and produced in this country is exported.

Tony Blair has expressed his view on the future development of Europe. Ireland must strive to make its mark to influence the development of the future of Europe because the alternative is not to be recommended.

It is important to ensure agricultural land is passed on as easily as possible to the younger generation and without impediment or burdens. The numbers availing of the farm retirement scheme are currently in their thousands but to date only 600 have been processed. I asked a parliamentary question on this matter recently. I suggest the Minister investigate the situation with alacrity.

This information presumes the parliamentary question was correctly answered because the correct information is not always available to this side of the House. There was a time when if the information in a parliamentary question was not accurate, the Minister offered an immediate explanation. The Bill could affect the mobility of land transfer, depending on whether people are in a position to buy out the annuity. It is essential that this factor is accommodated as we must keep in mind the basic purpose of agricultural land.

A balance must be found between protecting the environment and ensuring the viability of enterprises on the land. The long-standing practice of removing all hedgerows providing shelter for flora and fauna was crazy and reflected the prevailing but mistaken wisdom in the Department of Agriculture at the time. Another mistaken concept, that to achieve a correct ecological balance all drainage should cease, is beginning to emerge. Drainage is an important part of the landscape but there are those who believe that allowing plains to flood will create some kind of utopia. Nature does not work this way. Plains have flooded to a greater or lesser extent from the beginning of time. Some parts of Ireland and other European countries would be permanently under water if drainage schemes had not been introduced over the years. Without dwelling on the details, some developing schools of thought take issue with the need for drainage. Their proponents have no practical experience and rely on second hand information but because the idea sounds good, they believe it should be promoted.

The landmass, like the economy, must be managed in a balanced manner. We must not allow our rivers and streams to choke up with debris because someone believes it would be a great idea to have a flood. Invariably, the result of this approach is that one becomes concerned with drainage when a real flood occurs, in other words, when it is too late.

Deputies have few opportunities to discuss the issue of agricultural land. I also wanted to discuss forestry use. Forests must be carefully managed. It is foolish to have valuable, fertile agricultural land in certain areas covered by trees when less viable land used for arable use is suitable for forestry.

I support the Bill and hope it will be of benefit to those for whom it is intended. It will tidy up a number of loose ends that have been lying around for a few years and will, I hope, facilitate those who intend to pass on their property to the next generation.

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