The Hill farmers for Action group have ended their picket of the Taoiseach’s office in Castlebar, Co. Mayo last night and confirmed that they will not travel to Brussels for a meeting next week. The decision to cease action was made at a meeting last night in Mulranny following some progress by the Department on addressing the issues which the group raised.

It is understood that following a meeting between the Minister for Agriculture, the Implementation Committee and the Hill Farmer for Action Group last Friday, there have been some slight wording changes to the GLAS Scheme proposals.

The new proposal by the Depart of Agriculture states: ‘’A commonage farmer shall apply individually for GLAS declaring that he or she is complying with GLAS Commonage Management plan (CMP). The CMP is to be submitted by an Advisor, ie. one advisor and one plan for commonage. Where the Department of Agriculture identifies that less than 50% of the active shareholders on a commonage apply individually for GLAS, the matter will be referred to the Commonage Implementation Committee for Consideration and recommendation.’’

The Hill Farmers for Action group acknowledge that this was a significant move from the original proposal. Farmers can now apply as individuals for GLAS declaring that he/she is complying with a GLAS Commonage Management Plan.

This is somewhat similar to the assurances given by IFA earlier in the year on the issues. However, IFA have reiterated that the are not in favour of one planner doing all plans on a commonage.