ICSA president Sean McNamara has said the ongoing uncertainty around GAEC 2, just weeks out from the BISS application deadline, is completely unacceptable and deeply unfair to farmers. “The closing date for BISS applications is just two weeks away, yet farmers still don’t know where they stand. There has been no formal approval from the EU Commission on Ireland’s proposed approach to GAEC 2, and there is no appeals mechanism for farmers to challenge how their land has been classified - because an appeals process will not even be established until that approval is secured. What use is that to farmers? It is outrageous that such a fundamental issue remains unresolved at this critical time,” he said.

Continuing, Mr McNamara said, “Farmers are not only worried about what GAEC 2 means for their current farming practices - they are worried about what it could mean in the future. The risk is that these maps, developed for CAP compliance, will be used as a back door to further restrictions under the EU Nature Restoration Law or other environmental designations down the line.

 We are constantly being told that the Nature Restoration Law will be voluntary, but there is widespread fear that if Ireland falls short on its targets, these so-called voluntary measures will suddenly become mandatory. If that happens, farmers rightly fear that the GAEC 2 maps will be repurposed to enforce rewetting or impose other land use restrictions in the future. This would be a total betrayal.”

 In addition, Mr McNamara said ICSA still has concerns about mineral soils being included in GAEC 2 mapping. “Whole LPIS parcels have been designated using a 50% threshold for peat soil content. This means large areas of productive mineral soil are being unfairly caught up in GAEC 2 restrictions, limiting agricultural activity and potentially devaluing land.”

 Mr McNamara said ICSA is demanding urgent clarity on GAEC 2. “Farmers cannot be expected to make informed decisions about their BISS applications - or their future - without official confirmation of the rules, a functioning appeals process, and certainty about how GAEC 2 will be implemented. The Department must move immediately to provide clarity on this issue and give clear guarantees that GAEC 2 data will not be used for any purpose beyond CAP conditionality. If this clarity cannot be provided in time, then a further derogation must be sought so that GAEC 2 does not come into effect until next year.”