Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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284. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has noted the recent meeting on the proposed restrictions on commonage farmers accessing GLAS; his views that the combined attendance of 6,000 persons at meetings on the issue is a representation of the depth of anger; his further views that the EU Commission is not enforcing the proposals that he is insisting on including those on collective agreement; if he differs with that view, to include in his response where the EU is insisting on these measures; if he will formally meet representatives of the farmers involved to resolve the situation. [46249/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am aware that many hill farmers have concerns regarding the proposed implementation of commonage management plans in the Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS). That is why countrywide information meetings were held by my officials to fully explain the position on the management of commonages as proposed under the new Rural Development programme. I accept that not all concerns have been assuaged by these sessions and that further engagement is needed, which is why I am meeting the representatives of the farmers involved tomorrow 3rd December. In tandem with this meeting, my officials will be discussing with the EU Commission Ireland’s proposals under the Rural Development Programme and the management of commonages will form part of that discussion.