Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for giving us a comprehensive overview of the CAP reforms. Having worked in Europe for two years, I am very much aware of how the system works in reaching compromise and achieving progress together.

Recent briefings from Teagasc and Macra na Feirme touched on the fragmentation of farms. If one goes back over 100 years when the Land Commission was established, there was a comprehensive roll-out of policy to give land to those who wanted to farm. Do we again need to develop a national policy of consolidating fragmented farms with agreements with adjoining areas?

Installation aid was suspended several years ago and 140 applicants were affected. Could they be included in this year?s budget?

Macra na Feirme and Teagasc have pointed out how the numbers attending agricultural college have increased dramatically since 2006. While this is a good development, the main issue is to ensure they will have land to farm and a decisive policy is introduced to achieve this.

One issue I am noting as a practising solicitor is the reluctance of some farm parents to transfer lands to a son or a daughter because of issues within family law. This needs to be addressed.

Senator Feargal Quinn referred to farming in New Zealand. My nephew who works there on farms for five months of the year has told me that one farm on which he worked has over 2,000 cows. The average farm size and milk production rate in Ireland are still low, while the number of farmers over 55 years of age is high. We have many young people coming through the education system. The opportunity must be given to them in order that they can invest in farming and increase milk production levels.