Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 25 May 1993

Vol. 431 No. 3

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Set-aside Land.

Liz McManus

Ceist:

11 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to fears expressed by environmental experts regarding the damage that may be caused to the Irish countryside by EC regulations on set-aside land, particularly the use of chemicals to take land out of productive use; if, in view of the potential damage to plant and wildlife, he will urge that the regulations are changed to promote the use of more environmentally sound methods of set-aside; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

170 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry his views on whether the set-aside proposals now being implemented represent an outrageous and impractical attempt to reduce production which will result in rural decay; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Mr. Hyland

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 170 together.

The set-aside element of Common Agricultural Policy Reform must be viewed in the context of the problem of increasing market imbalances between supply and demand which had developed in the cereals sector.

The disposal of surplus stocks was placing an intolerable burden on the Community budget and threatened the future of the Common Agricultural Policy and farming. Community intervention stocks of cereals stand at a record 32 million tonnes.

Some corrective action was inevitable and the alternative to the measures agreed would have resulted in a sharp reduction in farm incomes without compensation. The impact which this would have on the rural community is obvious

The use of land set aside as an effective means of curtailing production was unanimously agreed as part of the Common Agricultural Policy reform by all member states of the Community.

I am aware of the concerns expressed by farmers and environmentalists about the effects of set-aside on the countryside. For this reason my Department has laid down management rules for set-aside land with a view to maintaining the land in good agricultural condition while at the same time respecting the environment.

In the near future the Council of Agriculture Ministers will discuss an EC Commission reflection paper on possible developments in arable land set-aside. Among the proposals to be discussed is the possiblity of non-rotational set-aside as well as a 20 year set-aside scheme which is aimed specifically at improving the rural environment. These measures would have beneficial consequences for the environment. I am of course, fully prepared to consider the views of interested groups in this matter.

Ms McManus

The fact that the damage being done to the environment and the death of small birds will help Common Agricultural Policy reform is poor consolation to those concerned about wildlife. Is the Minister aware that the EC regulations regarding set-aside land for tillage farmers has been described already by the Irish Wild Birds Conservancy as an environmental nightmare? Is the Minister going to deal with the regulations that are now in place which are creating environmental damage? Farmers governed by the regulations have to mow, harrow or spray their set-aside land with paraquat or gramoxone. There is probably quite a number of farmers who do not like to be put in this position for a number of reasons, but I am concentrating on the environmental question at the moment. Is the Minister aware that this may be actually contravening the Wildlife Act? Although I appreciate that there will be deliberations on this whole issue, which is very commendable, what does the Minister intend to do to reverse those regulations that are damaging the environment? We are already too late for this spring but we have to get the matter sorted out before the cycle comes around again and the same sort of damage recurs.

Mr. Hyland

The whole concept of set-aside is alien to the ethos and the professionalism of farming. There is no farmer in this country who voluntarily wants to be involved in set-aside. The reality is that set-aside is part of the agreed reform of the common agricultural policy. In the negotiations the Minister endeavoured to minimise the effects of set-aside on Irish agriculture.

I share the Deputy's concern about the environment and about wildlife in particular. So also do the farmers. Certain guidelines have been laid down in relation to the management of set-aside land, for example, provision of a green cover consisting either of a mixture of grasses or spontaneous growth, cutting of the green cover once before mid-May and once from mid-June onwards etc. There are also regulations in relation to the use of herbicides and sprays to which the Deputy has referred. In addition to all of that, under the broader environmental agricultural measures we are negotiating post 1993 a scheme which will encourage farmers to farm in an environmentally friendly way and they will be compensated for so doing.

We are endeavouring, to the best of our ability, to minimise the effects of the policy of set-aside in relation to agriculture, the environment and particularly wildlife that the Deputy is so rightly concerned about.

Ms McManus

In the meantime what will happen if a farmer is found to be in breach of the Wildlife Act because he is complying with EC regulations?

Mr. Hyland

I do not think the question arises. Farmers will be complying with the set-aside aspect of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and they will be dealing with the set-aside land on the basis of the guidelines laid down by the Department which will not be in conflict with any of the regulations to which the Deputy has referred.

Mr. Dukes

You are not sure.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

Will it be as serious as a breach of the Official Secrets Acts?

Ms McManus

What ever happened to Green 2000?