Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Farmers in this country are facing a crisis of enormous proportions. Many of them have looked at other methods of farming. A total of 225 farmers, many of whom are in west Cork, applied for organic status for their farms. There was a significant list of criteria to meet, such as attending courses, joining a certification body and paying planners to draw up plans. Only 55 of these farmers were successful, meaning that 75% of box-ticking farmers were rejected. This is a flawed system that led farmers up the garden path. It is a significant blow to them and to our environment. Will the Taoiseach speak to the Minister, Deputy Creed, and to the Minister of State, Deputy Doyle, to get the large list of criteria needed to enter organic farming scrapped immediately?

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