Representatives from the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) travelled to Brussels last Thursday (27th March) to discuss Irelands GAEC 2 submission with EU Commission officials in a meeting organised by MEP Luke Ming Flanagan.
Speaking on this National President Vincent Roddy who attended the meeting outlined “how the INHFA had previously lodged a formal objection to Ireland’s GAEC 2 submission with both the commission and with Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) monitoring committee.”
In lodging this objection, we are also well aware of the vital importance the EU Commission has attached to the continuation of agricultural activities to maintain and protect these lands as reflected in the footnote of the EU legal text for GAEC 2” added Roddy.
With regard to the associations objection the INHFA Leader detailed how “the principle bone of contention with the Irish proposal is the implementation of the GAEC2 standard at full Land Parcel Identification system (LPIS) parcel level,” adding that “none of the other eight GAEC standards are required to be implemented in this way.”
On providing further clarity on this the INHFA President stated that “while we accept that monitoring and controls by the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) are administered at LPIS parcel level this can also be achieved in the case of GAEC 2 by red lining out features similar to GAEC 8 which covers space for nature and GAEC 9 that protects Natura 2000 sites (SAC and SPA).”
In addition to this, the Irish proposal has he added “through using the full LPIS parcel and a 50% threshold for peat soil content within that land parcel, captured approximately 100,000 hectares of inorganic (mineral) soil in a GAEC standard designed solely to protect carbon rich soils.”
Following an engaging discussion with Commission officials, Roddy detailed how “it was established and conceded by them that mapping of GAEC 2 full LPIS parcels was not a legal requirement and that mineral soils were not required to be included as part of a standard designed for wetlands and peatlands.”
The INHFA delegates also outlined to the commission workable proposals similar to the red lining of areas and features under other GAEC standards. This the INHFA President stated “can deliver for GAEC2 through identifying the peat soil in the parcel and be verified by way of an annual declaration as part of the BISS application.”
In concluding the farm leader detailed how “the INHFA who, have been the only farm organisation to officially object to the current GAEC 2 proposals, will continue to seek a fair solution that doesn’t discriminate unfairly on the 35,000 farmers whose land parcels fall foul of the 50% threshold proposed by DAFM.