Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is. We introduced the option for a more intensive level of stocking rate for tier 1 because we wanted a mix of farmers. The Commission indicated a wish for many different farmers in the new environmental scheme rather than it solely being for commonage and Natura lands or small, disadvantaged farms. Intensive farmers also need to be thinking about the environment with respect to the GLAS. The reality is they will be a minority of farmers, although some people may not want to hear me say that. The vast majority of farmers coming into tier 1 will be of the type we discussed earlier in commonage and Natura lands. There will also be smaller farmers coming in under tiers 1, 2 and 3. In many ways, I suspect they may be prioritised, although if we have to choose, we must examine the criteria, depending on who applies and how many applicants there are. If we accept 30,000 farmers into GLAS in the first round, we may get between 35,000 and 40,000 people applying. We will have to make some choices. I assure the Deputy that we will try to ensure every type of farm and structure will get into GLAS at some level.

See this speech in context