Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like to thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this item, which relates to agriculture and GLAS III payments terms and conditions. I acknowledge the presence of the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, who has kindly agreed to step in and take this issue on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Michael Creed. I received a telephone call from the Minister's office today informing me that he was unavoidably absent. I fully understand and respect that.

I want to address a number of issues. As part of the criteria for GLAS III, there is a requirement to undertake a soil analysis and nutrient management plan. An applicant must be compliant with that to avail of the funding and supports under GLAS III. I have had a look at the guidelines provided by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in respect of the European regulations on the GLAS payments and the co-funding for them. I have set this out in an email to the Minister, but on page 36 there are strict criteria. Failure to comply with the nutrient management plan and to have it filed by 31 March 2018 will incur penalties. No GLAS payment will issue to farmers for completion of the nutrient management plan if they fail to comply with the terms and conditions.

My case and the case of farmers and people who have lobbied me in this regard is that we know that the land is swamped. I spoke to a farmer in Tuam the other day. His land is swamped with water and yet he has to have soil cores bored and tests complied with and filed by 31 March. He will simply not be able to do it. Anyone, urban or rural, driving around this country in the last few weeks would be aware that we had Storm Ophelia, Storm Eleanor, Storm Fionn and Storm Emma. We had vast flooding of our grounds. Nobody wants not to comply with the terms and conditions of GLAS III. We heard time and time again of the failure of farmers under GLAS I and GLAS II. We still have ongoing issues with people not receiving their payments. Some of that was to do with compliance. We cannot tolerate people who do not comply. I accept that. I am not here to make a case for people who do not comply with the GLAS terms and conditions. I am here today, as someone who sits on the agricultural panel in Seanad Éireann, to make a strong case for flexibility and a reasonable approach by the Department and all those involved.I accept that it had these terms. My proposal, which I ask the Minister to consider, is that as we monitor the situation in the run-up to 31 March, the Minister and those administering the scheme, both locally, nationally and through the European funding mechanisms, should have some flexibility. Can we extend that period for up to three or four weeks? That is a reasonable request. I acknowledge the Minister will have to be consulted but I ask the Minister of State to revert to the Minister and to the Department and to make a case for a reasonable, fair approach to farmers whose lands are swamped and who cannot comply with the soil testing and the nutrient management plan data they have to file by 31 March. These farmers need leeway in order that they will not be penalised and struck off for what is effectively a substantial and important payment for them under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS 3.