Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I cannot do this in a minute. I will start by taking grave exception to the phrase Deputy Conway-Walsh. She stated that what is proposed will "severely disadvantage" farmers in Mayo or anywhere else in the context of GAEC 2. That is not the case. Day-to-day farming and agricultural activity will continue.

On the basic point made by Deputy Connolly, and following on from Deputy Kenny's point about splitting parcels of land, I have dealt with the INHFA. It proposed alternative wording in a footnote. It asked me to include that in the proposal to the Commission, which I have done. I am working with it. The Commission requires us to put it in. It then audits it afterwards. If we are wrong and if we cannot control it, that is when the disallowance arises. We could be in breach of up to a €100 million of a fine recurring on the single farm payment if we get this wrong. We have to have a small controllable area. The alternative to having 50% peat is having 100% in the land parcel. That would bring in 880,000 ha of mineral soils. I am striking the balance right while also saying that farmers' activity will not change. Their day-to-day activity can continue. This is not a designation like some people outside of this House are scaremongering about. I reassure farmers that their day-to-day activity will continue.

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