The Oireachtas Agriculture Committee is investigating the viability of the tillage sector. On Tuesday, the committee invited Teagasc, the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association, and the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland to address them.

Present from the committee were chair Pat Deering from Carlow, TDs Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon) and Jackie Cahill (Tipperary), and Senator Mark Daly (Westmeath). They were joined by Leitrim native Martin Daly.

This is less than half the committee, barely a quorum, and undermines the reputation of the committee, which has done excellent work in recent years.

It also means that the main tillage areas were not represented at their own forum, with the exception of the chair, who must maintain impartiality at all times.