Paul Connaughton
Question:350 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a deal negotiated between her Department, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and local farmers in the Shannon Callows area in County Galway was not proceeded with; her views on the fact that in order to preserve the corncrake, farmers will not alone have to take a massive reduction in the profits of the area specified for the corncrake but as a consequence of this development will also stand to lose substantial income from the rest of their farmland; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are only about 6,000 hectares involved in this highly sensitive scientific area of conservation; her further views on whether farmers will be adequately compensated for managing and farming such important areas of conservation; the deal she had on the table with the farmers concerned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28197/05]
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