Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yes, I know that. Ms Byrne talks about opportunities for farmers. Unless I heard it wrong, we are losing a farmer every week out of tillage. Is that correct? That is not an opportunity, it is a loss. I say that just so Ms Byrne understands it.

I understand that grain must come in because we do not have enough in this country. At the moment, she is talking about increasing tillage at a time when the dairy sector can give €400 a hectare, and with the advent of solar farms. Where does she see the expansion coming when we are losing farmers? She mentioned Bord Bia. We listened to the various organisations that came in earlier. At the moment, if I used angel dust, I would be locked up in with an animal, but the guys in America can use it and they can send their stuff in. As was said by the groups earlier, why is genetically modified grain not clearly marked to distinguish it from the grain grown in Ireland? First, why is that not done as a minimum requisite? Second, let us call a spade a spade, the budget must deliver for grain farmers. The derogation is pressing on one side, which means dairy farmers are looking for more land. There is no point in saying they are not. Forestry investors, investment companies and solar farms are coming in trying to buy land. There is pressure on land. I did not see any more of it made in the last few years so the pressure that is on it is ferocious. The Department needs to provide a budget to make sure that those farmers are kept going. If it does not, everyone will lose if they are gone and out of it. Does Ms Byrne not agree?