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

It is always positive to get a good response from a Minister. I am pleased that officials are contacting affected landowners to advise that force majeurewill apply in respect of the 2021 scheme. That is a positive outcome and many people will be happy to hear that this evening.

However, I have spoken to a number of affected landowners in recent times and they had heard nothing but the Minister's word is good enough for me. That deals with the immediate issue of the application for the basic payment scheme, BPS, and everything that is contingent on that. It was a real worry for many landowners, not only the payments themselves but the fear that there might be some kind of penalties attached if these forms were filled out incorrectly.

There are the medium and longer term issues. I spoke to landowners whose drains are blocked, for example. Huge drains that would normally perhaps be 6 ft deep and 8 ft or 9 ft wide are blocked. What are they supposed to do? Can they clear out those drains because that is having a negative impact on the rest of their land? We need much more positive proactive engagement from the Department. People want to stay within the regulations and the law but they do not know what to do. I would appreciate that engagement.

Finally, on the issue of compensation, the Minister said it is up to the Department of Finance, and that is fine. The Minister will note that in his own area of Inishowen, when there was a landslide, compensation was paid to farmers for losses incurred. I am only asking that the Department, in conjunction with the Department of Finance, put a similar scheme in place for the farmers in Drumkeeran.

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