Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Joe Healy and all the representatives here today from the Irish Farmers' Association. This issue has been around for quite some time. We are all very conscious of it. I met with some of the growers from my own end of the world. On Sunday evening I was at a table with one of them. The reality is that it is not affecting every grower. It must be recognised that we are talking about a minority within the grain and cereal growers in the State. That minority probably numbers somewhere close to 400. I am aware of the action plan that has been set out and many of the elements of the plan could be described as being medium-term objectives such as one would like to see in the future, but the first item on the list is the one we really need to have now, which is an aid package for farmers. If there are 400 or so farmers, at an average of €12,000 each, then the amount of money we are talking about is approximately €5 million. It is not a huge chunk of money in terms of the budgets being dealt with by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in the context of a vital industry. As other contributors have said, it is not just the grain industry. It is interconnected to every other part of the agriculture sector, to our food production and to the whiskey and beer industries, which are produced and exported very well by Ireland. The fact that all those things are so interconnected means that we must ensure the grain industry survives, lasts and moves forward. The example is often given of industries that fell away in the past such as the sugar industry. It left a huge hole for so many growers in the State when it was taken away overnight. If the sugar industry was still here it would be an advantage because it is the similar type of grain growers who would also be growing the beets. The problem we have here is that somehow there is a block to recognising that this issue requires money. It does not require a loan nor does it require tea and sympathy. It requires money on the table. This is what needs to happen as quickly as possible. In fairness, any time we talk to the Minister he understands the issue. We are, however, inclined to blame the officials in his Department, and I know there are some present today, but we will not blame them for everything. At the end of the day the Minister has the decision to make, and that is why he is there. He needs to make that decision and put the money in place to ensure the grain industry does not fall and go by the wayside, the way other industries have in the past.

The industry representatives have the full support of this committee in what it they are seeking to do. It goes beyond just the first item on the action plan list for an aid package to be put in place. It is also about the other elements of the list which are for medium term objectives which should not be lost if an aid package comes. These objectives also need to be looked at so the industry can be in a position next year, or the year after, where a buffer can be created and if another situation arises such as the bad weather crisis of this year we will not be looking for an aid package then. As the other contributors have said, the industry representatives have the full support of this committee in getting the issue resolved. I am not sure what we can do. It was suggested to bring the matter to the EU but while we all have a good relationship with the Minister, Deputy Creed the buck stops there. It will be his decision and he needs to step up to the mark and make that decision as quickly as possible.