Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

To follow on from what Deputy Fitzmaurice said about the biodiversity strategy, as the Minister is aware, the EU wants us to legally protect a minimum of 30% of land across the Union. We already protect about 16% so that would double the amount of land protected. To put a picture on this, that would be the province of Connacht and about half of County Cork. That is the 30%. Within that, the EU wants one third, or 10%, to be strictly protected. Looking at the designations, that means that even human visitation, never mind land use, would be strictly controlled. Some of this works well for the forests in Finland and Sweden, and the mountains in France and Germany, but for rural Ireland it really means that agricultural production will have significant challenges and, in some places, will be impossible. That is the first point.

If we look at GAEC 2, which is required for the single farm payment, farmers are required to have in place appropriate protections for peatlands and wetlands. If that is the case, as 30% of our land is designated, and as most of it will be reclaimed peatland and wetland, farmers will not be able to put that in place and even get 70% of their payments. Will the Minister get GAEC changed from "appropriate protection" of peatlands and wetlands to "maintenance" of peatlands and wetlands? The Minister can answer me in writing.

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