Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We must certainly strike a balance in any conclusions we reach in this new CAP agreement. I plead with the Minister regarding small farmers and mountain landholders who must be supported to help them maintain their family holdings which are pivotal in the social fabric of rural Ireland.

These families have eked out a living for generations, in many instances, completely against the grain and on marginal land. There is great credit due to them for their determination, diligence and industry in making a living, often with the odds stacked against them while they carry out progressive work to improve their lot.

A man at a meeting referred to the fact that he had a farm of about 60 acres. He remarked it consisted of 20 acres arable land and 40 acres horrible land. That has been the reality in rural Ireland during the years. Those living in the west of Ireland have slaved and have been committed to improving their lot. They have carried out all types of drainage work with spades and sleáns in order to maintain the quality of the land. They cultivated their land and made it productive. In some cases, farmers are penalised for having rushes growing on their land. The weather is a contributory factor.

Land quality has divided the country into two Irelands. One cannot compare the conditions applying in the Golden Vale of Munster and the general areas east of the Shannon over to the Irish Sea and to the English Channel, with land along the western seaboard. One cannot overlook the fact that farmers on the western seaboard - dairy, beef or sheep farmers - are productive farmers if even at a micro-level. At all times they have contributed to the economy of this country by producing quality products as well as being excellent custodians of all aspects of the environment with regard to wildlife, heritage, traditions and all aspects of the quality of rural life.

A formula needs to be devised that is fair and equitable in order to address the gross inequity that exists in the current single farm payment. I refer to the many anomalies and loopholes in the current system which have been manipulated, for example, by the movement of cattle via the marts and directly onwards to the factories. This movement of animals was legal and above board. Because of the system adopted by Ireland very little farming activity was involved. These matters need to be addressed in order to provide fairness in the system for the people to whom I have referred.

Many aspects of the current system are far from equitable. For example, 50,000 farmers received less than €5,000 last year from the current single farm payment while 83,000 farmers received less than €10,000. At the same time, 243 farmers received €150,000 or more while four recipients received more than €300,000. A fairer distribution of the funds would protect the active farmer. It is imperative to double or treble the payments for existing recipients of lower levels of payments. There are significant opportunities for the large commercial farmer and the factory farmer in the medium to longer term as a result of the removal of the milk quota system and the need for food to feed the increasing global population. There is much to be gained for Ireland in this respect. It will provide opportunities for the large farmer and will improve the lot of the small farmer.

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