Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I understand that and I take the Minister's point but at the end of the day, there are issues, particularly in my part of the world, with people in rural areas finding it difficult to get planning permission. If their lands are designated, what will happen if they are in GAEC 2? Will that be an issue for them?

There are also serious problems for farmers with ambitions to expand their lands or grow their holdings. They need reassurance on the future value of that land. They need to get reassurance around all of those issues to make this palatable for farmers. Many farmers, particularly in the west and north west, are organising public meetings. They are annoyed and upset that this will be another designation that is detrimental to their future. We need to bring in schemes and measures that show farmers there is a future in agriculture and do not make it more restrictive and close it down.

I want to work with the Minister on this. We all want to get it across the line, but what is being presented is scaring farmers. That should not be happening.

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