Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Norma, Brian and Catherine. Like other speakers, in preparation for meetings I read through the submissions in order that I could prepare questions for the witnesses. However, following on from the submission given today, the questions I had intended to ask have been already answered. It was one of the best and most moving submissions I have ever heard at this committee.

By way of history, in 1983 I ploughed my first all-Ireland in Waterford in the under 21 section. I was a young lad, mad to get out the traps. At the time, John Summers, John Treacy, Martin Kehoe, Willie Ryan and Liam Rohan were the lads we aspired to be. I might as well be honest; I never made it. I cannot see it happening when it did not happen before now. I think it was in 1986 Liam Rohan won the all-Ireland outright. He won a few stubbles, but having done two together he won outright. He represented Ireland at world championships on four occasions. In terms of what the witnesses have done, at the time of his death or before it, representing Ireland was probably the legacy, but I can guarantee them today that if he could come back, they would be the legacy. Embrace FARM is the legacy. It would out trump him having represented Ireland. The work Embrace FARM is doing is fantastic. He could not but be proud. That in itself has to be a solace for them, which solace they are now providing for other families. I cannot compliment them enough. It must mean so much to families to have available to them a service that was not available to the witnesses. As mentioned in the submission, when they sought help it was not there but rather than walk away frustrated they set about fixing that for other people. That is to be highly commended.

I have some short questions based on a couple of things Ms Rohan has said. With regard to the European Innovation Partnerships, EIP, funding for one year, what happens next year? Without going into detail, are there are many other families who are prepared to row in with Embrace FARM? When something happens to you, people always say it is great to talk to somebody who has been there before. Ms Rohan has been there and is talking to all of those families. Are many others prepared to row in, talk to people and help? Are there many who are willing to club in with Embrace FARM to make it bigger?

Ms Rohan has said she is not a safety expert. There is a big issue, which Senator Lombard has mentioned. When I was young, I started driving a grey Ferguson before moving on to a Massey Ferguson 135 and Massey Ferguson 165. I had a bit of experience before I got into what you would call a half-decent tractor. Now young lads are stepping up. Something has to be done about it, to be honest. It will not be popular with the 17-year-olds and 18-year-olds who are looking for licences and who think they will be drawing silage next year but something has to be done there. You have to have a bit of experience before you are put up on a massive machine. I do not know how to handle that but, as Senator Lombard has said, it is something we definitely need to look into.

Earlier, in our meeting with the Minister of State, we mentioned the difficulties some families have had with the Department after a death, accident or tragedy, which the witnesses highlighted in their submission. I have no doubt he will pursue that matter. The Minister of State was a bit taken aback when some sections of the Embrace FARM submission were quoted. I have no doubt but that he will pursue the matter and I will certainly be pursuing him to do so. It is heart-wrenching. My own uncle died just a couple of months ago. It was recorded as a farm accident but it was a heart condition. He was dead before he crashed the tractor. I see what is going on in the family and the grief they feel. They are trying to sort things out. He was a bachelor. My mother and his other sister and brothers are looking for things in the house but do not know where anything is. I know exactly what it is like because I have lived it. Everybody has, as the Chairman said earlier. You do not need an unhelpful Department official or a letter saying you are not getting paid because you missed a deadline, which was a week after the family tragedy, on top of that. There has to be a little bit of leeway within the Department. We will be pursuing that with the Minister.

On behalf of everybody, I again thank the witnesses. They have done a lot for many people. It is a pleasure to have them here today.