William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The guests are all very welcome. I am aware that they were here a while ago. I attended a meeting at Killashee Hotel at which there were nearly 1,000 people. It was the biggest gathering I had seen in years. Years ago, I went to a beet meeting, but do you know what happened with the beet? It was all sold out of this country. This prompted me to raise it here at our last meeting. I am delighted that I got the support from my fellow members to invite the guests in today because I think this is a very important day. Our budget is next Tuesday, so the timing is right. That is why I wanted the witnesses here.

I very much felt I was not bringing members on board but I feel I have them on board now in regard to supporting me to get the money. This matter is important. We need to be crystal clear that both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, in their election manifestos, committed €60 million per year to the grain industry for five years. I acknowledge that one party, according to its manifesto, was going to give €85 million. Fair play to it. The problem we have, about which we should be clear today, is that the money was to be extra money that was to be put into the agriculture budget. I ask colleagues in Fianna Fáil who are here today to talk to the Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Jack Chambers, in the interest of the grain industry and to ensure a separate budget.