Pippa Hackett (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The EU average of 7.5% was the agreed figure we worked off for the programme for Government. That is a significantly ambitious target. I appreciate it is not near the EU's target of 25%. However, the EU currently has an average land area of between 8% and 8.5% given over to organics. Even across the EU, to get from 8.5% to 25% by 2030 is also hugely ambitious. We will work closely with our partners across Europe because if they have to do it, we have to do it. We have to share that knowledge and implement it.

The schemes themselves are not the only route or mechanism for organic farming. These farmers, in all likelihood, will all be accepted into the scheme. There are farmers who operate as organic farmers outside of the scheme, however. It is just one part of the puzzle.

See this speech in context