Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Patrick O'Donovan's intervention is timely as my Department is in discussions with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the rural development programme to see how best to compensate farmers who are in Natura areas. The points the Deputy has raised are very important. Some 300 farmers were on farm plans to provide proper feeding grounds for the hen harrier but not all farmers in the special protection areas that were designated for hen harriers were involved. The scheme closed due to the financial constraints in 2010 and was not reopened but we are honouring the commitments in respect of those who were in the scheme at the end of that five year programme. We are now discussing how to approach the compensation issue in the next scheme whether it should be funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine or my Department. I feel it should be funded directly from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

See this speech in context