Victor Boyhan presses IFA on CPO inconsistency

First I want to welcome all the witnesses here today, and you're all very welcome. I want to keep my focus pretty focused basically, and the first thing is with the IFA. At the very outset, I've just read a press release that was issued this afternoon when we were already at the meeting, which was issued at 15.54, and I'm going to go back to that in a minute. But I want to draw your attention to the Code of Best Practice of the National Region Greenways December 2021 to the life of 2026, December 26 it ends, and also the Code of Practice National and Regional Greenways, and particular reference to the sustainable payment scheme. Now peppered right through all these documents is the Compulsory Purchase Order. In the Code of Best Practice for the compensation schemes, which I have in front of me, we have the signatories of the following people. The Pat McCormick, the President of the ICMSA, Dermot Kelleher, the President of the ICSA. That's the ICMSA was Pat McCormick, Dermot Kelleher was the President of the ICSA, Tim Cullen and President of the IFA, Peter Walsh, the Chief Executive of TII, and of course the then Eamon Ryan, Green TD and Minister for Transport. And clearly they refer to the schedule of payments and the sustainable payments, but also mentioned is all over this document is the CPO. Now you can be under no misunderstanding with the IFA talk about and support the CPO process. They put their signature to this document. They were fully aware of it. And I just want to make that point. So I'm getting mixed messages. When this meeting started at what you call it at a 1554 press release was issued by the IFA press office, which talked about the CPOs and the no-go, no-go for the IFA. That's not consistent with the document that I'm quoting here for you. So there's a lot of confusion. We don't, the IFA, and you do not have the time here today to clarify that. So I would appreciate you'd come back at another time. But key to this is an inconsistency of messaging, a change in heart, a change of way. That's what I'm picking up from it. And I think the public are picking up and the people that have contacted me knowing this meeting one were asking. I said, well, I'll clearly ask the question. So I want to park that there for a moment. I want to talk to Gleana O'Shea. I want to say you nailed it. And your presentation was exceptionally good. And what can I take away from that in a few minutes? Because I think it's important that we capture what we're saying in a public forum, as documented on the LACTA's TV, and in the minutes and the records of these proceedings. And my takeaway from you, and from the farm workers as well, is that the compulsory purchase is not, should not be used for recreation greenways across private or family farmlands. It requires that public land first audit before private land is identified as a preferred option or route. Require that the Department of Agriculture involves where active farmland livestock systems, drainage, food production, or biodiversity are affected or potentially impacted upon. And require an independent whole of farm impact assessment before a route of selection. And then, of course, require the compensation to address whole holding loss. Whole holding loss, as you've said, Ms. O'Shea. Insurance, injurious affection, accommodation works, professional fees, and future development and loss. So that's my takeaway. I can only say what I can take away from it, and the motivation that you have shared with us, which I want to say. So look, in essence, to be fair to the IFA, with the little bit of time I have left, I'd like to hear a very clear, you won't have that much time, but give a commitment that you will clarify, what was the intention when you signed this document back in 2021? You do know it runs out in December 2026, so you will have an opportunity to revisit the document and maybe you might tell us, have you regrets here? Was there misunderstandings? Do you understand the perception that people have in relation to the IFA's role in this? Thank you. Okay, thank you for the question, Senator. And I refer back to the High Court Judicial Review that took place in the October of that year, which gave powers to county councils to use CPO processes. When the IFA entered into negotiations, and that document took two years, that Code of Best Practice took about two years, I suppose, to agree, it was on a voluntary land acquisition basis. So therefore, the negotiation, the consultation, the ability for a project to go and negotiate and talk, and I suppose persuade a landowner, if they wish to be a part of the project, they can do. But the reality is that the state has all of the ability. When the IFA go into any negotiation, whether it's with ESB, Irish Water, Gas Networks Ireland, in order, we have not got the ability to change the law. That is up to the eruptus here to change laws, and we have to focus on the fact that always there's the sword of Damocles hanging over landowners' shoulders if they do not sign up to a voluntary land agreement. So I would say back to you, Senator, that there's an opportunity here for this eruptus committee to bring changes to the CPO process, to look on this honestly and sincerely, and take on board the concerns that landowners have in the countryside, where there's thousands of landowners at the moment who are looking at potential greenway developments going on. That may never happen. I'm sorry, just conscious of time, can I just say, do you accept that in principle, in certain circumstances, you supported CPOs of private farmland, as set out in the document I've just referenced to you? We have always said, and if you look at that document, Senator, you'll see very clearly at the constraint study, map state-owned land and stopping points. So state-owned land should be always the go-to. It should be part of the suite of measures. It should be part of the suite of measures that you stood over and you've changed track. I disagree on that. Well, let's disagree. But that is my view. Senator, if I may, we're out of time, but if you need to, a moment. I'll go back to my previous points. If you wish, you can write into the committee as well, if you have further points that you want to raise on it. That would be helpful. Thank you. I need to move to Deputy Kenny.