Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association for raising a crucial issue and bringing it directly to the doorstep of the Dáil and Department of agriculture today. I had the privilege of joining the protest and hearing at first hand the genuine concerns and frustrations that these farmers are facing due to the recent decision to include mineral soils under GAEC 2. This policy fails to differentiate between peat lands and mineral soils and is simply unfair. It places a disproportionate burden on farmers, who are already grappling with the pressures of rising costs, changing regulations and the complexities of sustainable farming.

The farmers I spoke to today were not against environmental protection. They are passionate about preserving our lands and heritage, but they are asking for fairness and for policies that reflect the reality of farming life on the ground. I urge the Minister for agriculture to listen closely to the concerns and issues raised by the INHFA. Rural Ireland’s future depends on our ability to protect the environment while also ensuring that family farms can survive and thrive. This policy was a sleight of hand. It disproportionately affects farmers in western counties and wrongly classifies good land, thereby imposing unnecessary and unfair restrictions. The proposal must be halted. I call on the Minister for agriculture to stand with the farmers, not in opposition.