That is exactly what the Deputy did.

Will the Deputy allow me to answer?

If we had not had a deal on Brexit, not only would we be excluded from the Rockall waters but from all British waters. We would not be having the argument about the 12-mile zone around Rockall; we would be having an argument about all waters within the British fishing zone, within which Rockall is placed and always has been placed. The Deputy can try to say it was not but it always has been. The part we have always disputed is whether the British Government has a right to an exclusive 12-mile access around Rockall.…

I assure the Deputy that I fully recognise the challenge this is for the many vessels involved and we are working to try to resolve the situation.

I thank the Deputy for his question. At the outset, it should be noted that Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, payments are governed by EU regulations and are subject to rigorous audit and control by the European Commission. That is a central aspect of this issue. The basic payment scheme application process has been streamlined over many years to ensure as quick, efficient and responsive a process as possible and, most importantly, prompt payment for farmers. The application process is reviewed annually to make it a…

I thank Deputy Canney. I take on board the points that he is making. I appreciate his authenticity in setting out his personal experience of the challenge he has experienced in his role as Deputy in supporting farmers. The warnings I have described serve as reminders to ensure applicants are aware of the schemes they are applying for. Experience of EU audits has shown it is clear that consideration of mistakes as obvious errors can only apply after an application has been made by the farmer. The instance outlined i…

Like the Deputy, I want to avoid farmers losing out because ANC payments are important for them. When farmers miss out on them, it is quite significant for them in that particular year. Every effort is made within the application process and structure to ensure it is clear whether the farmer is applying for this payment and to provide a reminder if the farmer is not applying for it. If a farmer does not apply as part of their BPS application, they have not applied for the ANC scheme. However, a 25-day period is pro…

I thank Deputies Carthy and Clarke. The programme for Government recognised the need to do more on gender equality and includes a commitment to developing and implementing a new strategy for women and girls. Gender equality is a core principle of the European Union and improving gender balance, gender equality and increasing the participation of women in farming are, for the first time, part of the objectives for CAP strategic plans. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, SWOT, analysis in preparati…

It will depend on the quality of the applications and projects that come forward. One of the benefits of the European innovation projects is the capacity to promote innovation and new ideas and to pilot programmes. One of the key objectives is to use it as an initiative where we will examine women's participation in agriculture. We will then assess them based on the quality of proposals and their impact. The Food Vision 2030 strategy recognises the important contribution of women to the sector's long-term sustainab…

I thank the Deputy. Right across the agrifood sector, and, indeed, State boards and committees that we establish, a real focus of Government is ensuring that we see greater female participation and representation at all levels, and, likewise, with the CAP consultative committees. Certainly, that is something that our focus will be on in the time ahead. It is something we will work with all stakeholders on to see how we can seek to improve representation and women's voices throughout the process.

In keeping with the programme for Government, my Department is committed to working with local authorities, charities and community stakeholders and supporting urban horse welfare programmes, in particular in the context of facilities and education programmes. In 2016, my Department committed to provide funding towards an equine facility being developed by the local authority in the Clondalkin area, as outlined by Deputy Carthy. This funding was committed on the understanding that the local authority was satisfied …

This is an initiative of which my Department is very supportive. There is a strong role for clubs such as this in working to ensure that horse welfare is prioritised, and that the tradition of horse care and horses in urban communities in particular are fostered and structured and that there is significant engagement in the education of young people in horse welfare and development opportunities. As I outlined in my initial response, the Department is engaging with Departments and various sectors and bodies. This i…

My Department has made a significant investment in partnership with South Dublin County Council. It was made very clear to the council at that stage that the Department's investment was to get the project going, so there is a real role for the council in that regard. The Department has also been in close contact with Deputy Gino Kenny, who has made many representations and has been a very strong advocate for this project from the outset. In September 2019, I met with the club board and the Department and support wa…

Great progress has been made in recent years on the introduction of low emissions slurry spreading and it is having a real impact. Through the on-farm investment scheme, TAMS, we have seen just under €100 million invested in low emissions slurry spreading machines and equipment. There are now approximately 3,500 low emissions slurry spreading machines in the country, from a base of none between five and seven years ago. Most of the national ammonia emissions come from the agricultural sector, and a significant volu…

Under EU rules on who can get grants under the programme, farm contractors are not eligible, although farmers are. The Deputy is correct that where it is a requirement and an obligation on farmers to spread using low emissions slurry spreading, we cannot grant aid compliance, even where it is a requirement for a farmer to use something to achieve compliance. What has happened in recent years is that we have made sure to give lead-in periods in advance of something becoming an obligation so farmers can prepare for t…

We have seen massive progress and most contractors are now using low emissions slurry spreading as well. That is where the demand will be from farmers in the years ahead. With regard to TAMS and other grants within the Department, my objective is to ensure we can support the sector and move to low emissions slurry spreading and then advance and accelerate that over the coming years. We are reaching a tipping point where farmers see this being used, they see the value of it and they get feedback from the farmers who…

The dairy sector is a tremendously exciting one and a real driver of our agrifood industry and sector, and we have seen that develop further since the removal of quotas in 2015. We have seen significant growth in milk output and what that means in terms of employment in all parts of the country through processing, through added value and through the increase in our national exports, which have grown from approximately €8 billion in 2010 to €14 billion today. In the years up to 2030, the plan under Food Vision is to…

Every country has the same challenge that we do. In regard to our emissions targets and the climate action plan, I worked very hard on behalf of the sector to ensure that it and its valuable socio-economic role, but also the science around agriculture, are very much respected in terms of setting a target which, while being as ambitious as possible, is also achievable. Overall, between now and 2030, while the economy is going to have to deliver, and our commitment as a Government is to drive on and deliver, a 51% ec…

The Deputy should stop and have a chat with them on the way home, give them the benefit of his wisdom

Talk is cheap.