Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

While I appreciate that much of the media coverage has focused on the potato crop, I am aware that growers of other crops, including carrot producers, have also been affected. As Deputy Creed noted, the Minister, Deputy Brendan Smith, met a delegation from the Irish Farmers' Association, while I have met individual growers. Both of us are giving serious consideration to the submissions farmers have made and are sympathetic to their case. As of today, a decision has not been reached on the matter but I expect one to be made shortly given that the timeframe is tight.

Since 1980, if not before then, there has been ongoing erosion of the number of growers. This trend has not been helped by the weather, pressures on retail and the sterling differential. The fact that the acreage used for horticulture has not changed belies the reality. I seek to maximise the number of growers as well as the acreage in horticulture.

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