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

The Deputy should be careful about what he seeking here in terms of clear definitions of what is in and what is out in commonage areas along the west of Ireland. We are trying to get more farming activity into commonage areas. We are trying to be as flexible and generous as possible within the rules to try to include as much land as possible to support farmers in those areas. The Deputy should be careful about what he is seeking here in terms of Commission definitions, Commission inspections and so forth to do this. We have been working with the Commission to produce a set of guidelines. They are based on pictorial guidelines and we have published those to help farmers determine what is and is not eligible on land that is marginal. The land might contain a large amount of rock or there might be limited growth in certain areas and so forth. We are trying to ensure that we maximise the amount of land in disadvantaged and marginal areas that is fit for agricultural use, is kept accordingly and is agricultural land in its own right.

In this particular case, which has been ongoing for some time, I have tried to find a compromise and to go through independent appeals processes. Multiple Deputies, from my party and other parties, have raised this case with me. They have approached various offices, Ministers and so forth. We have tried to come to a compromise on a way forward on this. It is now going the legal route which means I am limited in what I can do.

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