Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In 2017 the Rural Independent Group brought forward a motion calling on the Government to honour the commitment in the programme for Government to reform the fair deal scheme by removing discrimination against small businesses and farming families and to introduce a reduced charge on the farm or business assets. The purpose of the motion was to remove the uncertainty for farm families and the self-employed and to protect the future viability of the farm or business asset for future generations.

Since that date almost four years ago, there have been endless and empty commitments made regarded the introduction of this urgent legislation to ensure these reforms happen. Not a single one of these commitments has materialised to date. Farming families and small business owners are being led up the garden path. Among the most recent of these commitments was a commitment from the Taoiseach in the Dáil last summer. At that time, the Taoiseach said that legislation would be brought forward in the autumn session around September 2020. I continuously followed up with this, such as in July and September last year. At that point, I was told by the Tánaiste that the legislation would be brought to the Dáil before Christmas. Since then nothing has been done. There is delay after delay. It is unacceptable and is causing a huge amount of worry and distress for farming families and small business owners.

Within the past few days I have received a reply to a parliamentary question from the Minister for Health, who told me that he has met with the Attorney General to discuss this very issue. Yet, no date or timeframe has been set and people are being left high and dry. Yet again, it is a disconnect between rural Ireland and urban Ireland and this Government, which does not stand over a commitment it made to rural Ireland.

While there is ongoing and active engagement, it is just not enough. These reforms need to see the light of day. They need to be done urgently. I stress this point to the Taoiseach. I reiterate it is almost four years since commitments were made. This is the reason, as the Taoiseach might understand, there are suspicions among people. People may believe there is a legal or financial roadblock. We need honesty here today. We need to let people know what is happening in order that they can plan accordingly. We also need to set a date. Will the Taoiseach tell us, specifically, if there are obstacles? Will he identify what they may be?

I am sure the Taoiseach will appreciate that the repeated failure to bring forward this legislation is creating a frustrating level of uncertainty for farming families and small businesses to endure, particularly as it was the recognition of inequalities within the current system that drove the need for these reforms in the first place. Four years is too long and I again appeal to the Taoiseach to make sure a date is set, that these reforms happen, that he honours the commitments made, including those made in the programme for Government.

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