Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

The 7% eco-focus areas include hedgerows. There are more hedgerows in Ireland per square kilometre than in any other country in Europe and we can count hedgerows as part of the 7%. In real terms, it is much easier for Irish farmers to set aside that level of land than for many farmers on mainland Europe.

From my perspective, however, the idea of setting aside any land that could be used to produce food when there are issues surrounding food security and when Ireland can produce quality, safe food for which there is a strong demand in Europe and globally makes no sense. If we need to protect areas for ecological reasons we should zone in on protecting those areas, as we do at present. To require every farm in the country to set land aside, regardless of the conditions, environmental value or biodiversity on the farm seems to me to be a very blunt tool. We should be more sophisticated than that.

With regard to Deputy Kirk's question on farm land for which there has not been an eligibility trigger, I will come back to the Deputy with a more precise answer. It is my understanding that there are about 500,000 ha that is called naked land. It does not have the clothes of eligibility on it.

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