There is a lot for farming in the programme for government, and a new flagship environmental scheme is a critical element.

A lot of farmers look longingly backwards at REPS, probably because it was generous financially. There were 70,000 farmers in REPS. The new scheme will need that kind of reach.

It’s going to be expensive, but there was a clear recognition during the talks that if we want to achieve our ambitions, this is a central plank of the strategy.

In terms of how to do it, the pilot scheme during the CAP transition phase will be important. Previously, GLAS and afforestation were in competition at times. There will be actions and outcomes required of farmers, so it will be in part results-based.

There was a clear recognition during the talks that if we want to achieve our ambitions, this is a central plank of the strategy

Forestry will be integral to the agri-environmental programme, and we cannot divorce this from the afforestation targets which we have been missing. We want to see agro-forestry, with trees and livestock running concurrently.

The all or nothing approach for forestry hasn’t worked, but some benefits from Andrew Doyle’s mid-term review are already apparent. This year, 38% of new forestry licence applications are for broadleaf planting, and applications are up 20% this year to date.

This will all be compatible with the direction of travel of CAP, and of Farm to Fork. We have been on this road, the Government had signed up to the green new deal towards 2030.

In terms of the next Foodwise strategy, this is already under way, and if you look at the team around the table from chair Tom Arnold down, it has sustainability all over it.

The all or nothing approach for forestry hasn’t worked

It’s like a jigsaw – it’s an exciting and challenging time, and we can’t ignore the demands, which are also coming from the market.

It is important to bring transparency into prices, and the food ombudsman’s office will be critical. The Unfair Trading Practices legislation is not the saviour, but is nonetheless important.

The forgotten farmers are in the Programme for Government for the second time. The problem was the EU said they were not a homogenous group, so we can find a solution, but we have to take the entitlements from somewhere to do that.

In terms of biodiversity, it is critically important to do this baseline survey. There’s been too much fluff and froth to date. We must build a clear picture. It will require farmer buy-in and probably both Teagasc and private advisory services.

We can’t ignore the demands, which are also coming from the market

We aren’t starting from scratch, we have good information and good fundamental principles from the BRIDE project in Cork, which deals with both intensive dairy and extensive drystock farms, the Burren LIFE project in a particular landscape setting, the Hen Harrier and Freshwater Pearl Mussel project.

We can all do some things that don’t impact on productivity or only slightly impact. Some farms may be pristine examples, they should not be penalised for that but rewarded. Others may need a lot to be done, and for some farms regulations, not schemes, will be appropriate.