The Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food will today (Wednesday, May 6) discuss the impacts of greenways, railways and road projects on farmers.

During this afternoon's session, the committee will focus on the use of Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for such projects.

Representatives from the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers' Association (INHFA) and the National Greenway Action Association are due to address members.

Greenways

Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food cathaoirleach Deputy Aindrias Moynihan said the session will "examine land take associated with the development of greenways, railways and roadways across Ireland".

"While this type of infrastructure can add to an overall societal benefit, there can be considerable disruption for people who lose land to those developments.

"We will look to those attending to outline the consultation processes and code of practice agreements with the aim of mitigation of the serious impacts to landowners," he said.

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O'Brien recently stated that best practice for greenways includes CPO as a "last resort".

Committee

The committee is also set to hold a separate session this afternoon on bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD).

Members will hear from Animal Health Ireland (AHI), which oversees the BVD eradication programme.

"This has been one of the most significant animal health programmes in Irish agriculture over the last decade," Deputy Moynihan said.

"The programme was launched in 2013 by Animal Health Ireland and made ear-notch tissue tagging of all newborn calves compulsory to identify persistently infected (PI) animals which are the main source of virus spread.

"We will look for more information on the funding and how the programme has delivered in terms of major economic and farming benefits," he added.