Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I hope a scheme will be found for ordinary shopkeepers who are losing money also. Many of these businesses provide jobs, but they do not get a look in. I hope that, whatever the hue of the next Government, it will adopt the same positive attitude.

This is an important issue because if taxpayers had not picked up the tab for this additional allocation, it would have been levied on farmers. That is the story and it comes as a major relief to farmers. Members were giving out hell about eyes in the sky and various other measurements officials were taking. There was a legitimate expectation that everything would be done right. I salute the Minister for taking action in this regard and I am pleased this has been achieved. Thankfully, the economy has recovered to the extent that he is able to provide this funding. Four or five years ago, he would not have been given one cent for this purpose. From that perspective, this funding is welcome and I congratulate the Minister on securing it.

The initial figure was much larger, but the Minister and his officials brought the Commission around to accepting the bona fides of their argument for a reduction. From that viewpoint, while I can be as critical as the next person, I like to speak up when a job has been done well. Irish farmers will benefit from this achievement and I congratulate everybody concerned.

Initially, there were negative vibes about the beef data and genomics scheme and attempts were made to throw it off course. I stood 100% behind the scheme because I believe strongly that upgrading our herds is the only way to win high value markets. I know this to be the case from a suckler cow herder in my area. I advocated and exhorted farmers not to be taken in by criticisms of the scheme. While there is an element of red tape involved, people will accept it if they see returns of €150 or €200. The number of farmers participating in the scheme is approximately 3,000 lower than I expected. Red tape may be part of the problem, although I know that age is also a factor, as are changes in applicable years and so forth. I urge the Minister to ensure the scheme will not be short-changed next year and that sufficient money will be provided for it.

My only criticism relates to the targeted agricultural measures scheme, TAMS. I am not criticising what the Minister is doing as I regard the TAMS as a very good scheme.

A notorious number of farmers have planning permission and have been ready to go but there is no sign of approvals. The Government is in its dying days. A lot of farmers would lose out up to 40% if they went ahead. I would say to the Minister as well that it is an attractive buy. I accept it is a matter of numbers, but I know of some dairy farmers who are trying to get work done but who did not get approvals, and they were extremely disappointed.

We are trying to constantly upgrade. It is important in the overall context of all of the debates, for example, in terms of what is going on in Paris at the world climate conference. We must try to ensure that we meet the dates in any schemes we bring forward, from the departmental end as much as from the applicant's end. The Department is in a position of strength. The applicant is always in the weaker position and has to try to comply with all eligibility conditions, which are onerous, as they should be, to ensure that money is well spent.

Like Deputy Martin Ferris, I welcome the funding for the World Food Programme. The Minister gave a commitment in that regard and he probably did not expect to be doubling it so quickly, but he did well here. I certainly would support that. We are entitled to make that contribution. Hopefully, it will help those who have been suffering a great deal in terms of being dislodged from their environment, being relocated and becoming refugees. I genuinely support that provision.

On the market volatility payment, the Chairman has been careful to bring in all the interested bodies, especially the dairy sector, to discussed this. We have had representatives from the banks before the committee and others and have exhorted them to be fair to the farmers. Of course, the banks gave great promises and we will watch them with interest to see that they adhere to the commitments they have given. The Minister has matched it 100%, up the maximum that he is allowed. The farmers should acknowledge that.

On areas of natural constraint, I note, like Deputy Martin Ferris, that those concerned about the hen harriers were in here and made a cogent and powerful case which we supported. I hope the Minister can find some way to facilitate within one of those budgetary heads their legitimate desire to farm their lands, which are circumscribed by the imposition that has been dealing with the hen harrier, including the SACs and SPAs.

All in all, I welcome the announcement here today. It is a significant one in terms of the future of the agricultural sector.