Heydon: GAEC 2 concerns ‘are misplaced for a variety of reasons'
Minister Heydon said for 'the vast majority of farmers' GAEC 2 will have no impact on their day-to-day operations.
He also detailed that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has written to all farmers who have at least one parcel identified as GAEC 2 and supplied a map and further information on requirements.
Minister Heydon confirmed that the only people who will know if land is subject to GAEC 2 is the 'farmer and the Department of Agriculture. The map is not published anywhere'.
The minister again outlined to the Dáil that GAEC 2 is 'a mandatory condition for the payment of Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS)' and that EU regulations require all member states to have a standard in place from the start of this year.
He said Ireland had taken the 'maximum flexibility' allowed to delay the introduction of the standard until 2025.
Minister Heydon told TDs: 'Many other member states introduced it in 2023, when we as a country signed up to this and said we would do it.
'A further deferral for 2025 was sought by Ireland, asking the European Commission for additional time.
'We received a very clear response from the commission that no further deferral would be approved. If I did not introduce this standard in 2025, Ireland would be in serious breach of the EU regulations governing Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) strategic plans'.
Minister Heydon
According to the minister this would have lead to 'significant fines' if Ireland had not followed through on the introduction of GAEC 2.
'I could not let that happen. I could not let a fine come in that would have taken away money that I want to spend on supporting our farmers instead.
'The standard that has been introduced for 2025 provides a baseline protection for carbon-rich soils, while allowing agricultural activity to continue,' he said.
Minister Heydon also told the Dáil that even if a land parcel is in GAEC 2 farmers can 'continue to farm as they have always done in the past'.
'In Ireland, our grass-based system already provides considerable protection for such soils and they are also protected by existing national planning provisions, for example on drainage.
'As I said, agricultural activity can continue. For example, ploughing, reseeding and maintenance of existing drains is all still allowed.
'New drainage is also possible in line with the existing national provisions, which have been in place for many years. Therefore, the introduction of this standard is expected to have minimal impact on farmers' day-to-day operations,' he added.
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