GAEC 2 'conflated with other issues' - Heydon
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has suggested that the Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAECs), specifically GAEC 2, is being 'conflated with other issues', leading to concerns from farm organisations.
The minister's comments came as a meeting of farmers last week, organised by the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), heard concerns over both GAEC 2 and how it will impact farmers; as well as the Nature Restoration Law and rewetting.
Also, the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers' Association (INHFA) held a protest outsides the offices of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in Dublin last week on GAEC 2.
GAEC 2, which aims to protect peatlands and wetlands, will be applicable in 2025 as part of conditionality for the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
It is described as a baseline minimum requirement to protect carbon rich soils, and outlines certain restrictions on farming practices on these soils.
Speaking at the annual general meeting (AGM) of the Agricultural Consultants' Association (ACA) last week, Minister Heydon said he understands "the concerns and emotions there is around peat soil".
"The GAECs, including GAEC 2, are baseline elements. At the heart of this, we are the last country to have...implemented our proposed measures [for GAECs]. Every other country has done so," he said.
"We've been in breach since January 1, so it was incumbent on me to avoid us incurring a €100 million fine that would be recurring until we fix it.
"But on reflection, and looking through the proposal, and engaging with each of the farm organisations, and I know they don't fully agree, but I engaged with them, consulted with them, and I listened to them. I listened to their concerns, I took on board all of the submissions that have been made on this process," the minister added.
"I am satisfied that the proposal that is with the [European Commission] from Ireland is one that will allow farmers to continue all of their daily activity on that land - to continue to be able to plough, to continue to be able to reseed, to continue to be able to maintain drains, and to be able to continue into the future to be able to have new drainage in line with national planning legislation," he said.
"I understand the concerns, and how this issue can get conflated with other issues, but it genuinely is a baseline measure that is just in relation to the BISS, effectively."
The minister pointed out that the GAEC 2 matter was not raised by farm advisors gathered at the ACA AGM.
"You notice here today, we're at the ACA [AGM] here, these advisors are dealing with farmers every day of the week. This is a not a topic for them here... I'm not speaking on [the advisors'] behalf, but his isn't something that came up here today because this isn't something that is necessarily going to affect farmers on the day-to-day element," Minister Heydon said.
"The topics that have been reflected there today are the things that have been impacting farmers on a day-to-day basis. GAEC 2 is not going to do that," he added.
