Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I accept the Minister of State's acknowledgement that fairness would require that there should be an appeals process, but my question relates to what the appeals process involves. I have not received an answer to that question. We will take it that there should be one, and we will proceed from there. It is an acknowledgement on behalf of the Department that there should be an appeals process. If there is not an appeals process, I take it that one will be developed forthwith on the basis of what the Minister of State has said.

The Minister of State is correct. There are many farmers who would like to be in co-operation areas who are not but, equally, there are farmers whose lands have been designated for a purpose for which it is manifestly unsuited. There is a lot of criticism of farming by calendar. We are experiencing unseasonable weather. It is not unusual to have snow at this time of year. We had an exceptionally mild winter and suddenly we seem to be getting a winter weather in the spring. Farming by electoral area does not really work either. We must look at what is actually on the ground in order to designate areas. I agree with this particular constituent of mine who came to me that the lands in question are simply unsuitable for hen harriers. I wish there was more land across County Clare suitable for the hen harrier breeding, but his land is not suitable.

See this speech in context