Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Farmers were invited to leave the AEOS and transition to GLAS. I do not think it was reasonable of the Minister to expect them to leave the previous scheme to enter a new one. When they entered the AEOS in the first place, there was an expectation that they would be able to complete it out. There is an onus on the Minister and his Government colleagues to ensure there is a GLAS-type scheme for them to be able to continue on to. Likewise, when the current seven-year CAP programme runs out, transition arrangements will be necessary before the next programme starts. We need to see a very different approach to these RDP schemes from the Minister and the Government and at European level. This is necessary to ensure all RDP schemes are open and are funded for farmers during the relevant period at the same level as at present. If this is not the case, the vast majority of farmers in this country will face a significant drop in their incomes.

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