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

I recognise that this is at an early stage of the process but we can see how the debate is becoming polarised. The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine has had two hearings on this. In one case we have had corrections to statements that have been made. We met with farm organisations, which are incredibly concerned about what this might mean. We have heard from environmentalists who critique anyone who raises any questions at all on this. We know that if we do not approach this correctly that it could create a space for people to manipulate facts and to contort issues but there are genuine concerns. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will have an important role in setting out precisely what the current proposal would mean for Irish farmers and how any negative consequences can be addressed and in outlining how it intends to ensure the farmers' voice is heard at DG level within the European Commission and within the wider European institutions.

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