Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. I am grateful to hear his response on the tillage sector. It is the first time I have seen an actual knee-jerk reaction from the Department when the tillage sector cries out for help in times of hardship. He said there are lessons to be learned and referred to Foodwise 2025. The Department has said that this was led by industry rather than by its own guidelines. I was a bit taken aback by that. That is the equivalent to the farmers saying tomorrow morning that they could milk 200 cows on 100 acres. Would the Department then be led by the farmers? I know the industry wants expansion, but should this come at the cost of other sectors?

Under the previous Minister and the previous Government, there was a massive drive to increase the national dairy herd, at the expense of encouraging farmers in the tillage sector or telling them to increase their existing holdings. The Minister and his colleagues in other Departments should be aware of the issue climate change which is facing us. Everyone is telling farmers to concern themselves with grass, and to be cognisant of the Origin Green symbol and our export quality. Why was no scheme implemented to encourage farmers to keep reserves and have something in their back pocket for a rainy day? That is what is happening.

The second issue is more of a local issue. I refer to local farmer supports. There are farmers in my own area who had plenty of stock, but they are afraid to trade it. I spoke to a farmer on the way to Dublin. He said he could have 100 bales, no problem. However, he cannot get assurance that he will get them back next year. That is the fear that prevents trade between farmers, the fear of non-payment. Some mechanism must be put in place so that one farmer can rely on another for good will at the end of the day. I am not blaming the Minister, but I think that with the crisis out there at the moment, more could be done. For example, I am led to believe there is difficulty in importing concentrates because of handling facilities at the ports. Some of our ports may not be big enough to handle the larger cargo ships. Those issues need to be addressed down the road.