Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State can say the farmers are not prevented from applying to agri-environmental schemes but the reality has been that it has been virtually impossible for them to enter both schemes under the previous CAP and is a matter that needs to be addressed.

The Minister of State referred to Bord Bia. There is a recognition that Bord Bia and Teagasc have a huge role to play in the research and marketing of organic produce, if this sector is to expand and become successful. I am not sure whether I trust either organisation to do that unilaterally. There must be pressure applied and the budgets of both organisations must be ring-fenced to indicate that they need to reflect the level of ambition that the rhetoric suggests is there, in order that specific marketing and research budgets are assigned for organics. Will the Minister of State consider this?

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