Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Since 2010, there has been no scheme in the Department. There is no scheme at the moment. It is suggested that farmers in designated areas get priority but if I sow wild bird cover I can get priority. If I have the best land in Ireland, even if it is not designated, I will get priority. Let us not spin this to people that they are special and lead them astray. Organic farmers with a designation get priority. It is dangerous to mislead people to think they are a special category and will be compensated in this way. If I have land that is not designated but I am in the organic sector, I get the same status and priority as if I cannot farm the land in counties Cork and Kerry, along the west coast or wherever there is a designation.

There is no good looking to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. In the past seven to 12 years, the Department has designated people's private property and has run behind the hills, leaving farmers with single farm payments that are now being blocked.

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