Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome all of the witnesses. I acknowledge the IFA's budget submission 2026. It is very professional. It is important for getting its messages across. I also acknowledge the Irish Grain Growers Group. It has got it right. Its presentation was focused, there was attention to detail and its key asks are clear. We do not need chapter and verse about what is required for this sector. We know it is suffering and there are huge financial and yield losses, which is particularly pertinent for those who have to lease land. Mr. McEvoy mentioned the cost of machinery, which I appreciate and acknowledge. Deputy Aird made a very robust interjection and I hear what he is saying. Before the election, all of the political parties committed to supporting the tillage sector. We have only another week to wait. I look forward to having the same meeting in a week and seeing how robust the people around this table are about the actions in the budget.

In Tánaiste Simon Harris's small piece on agriland.ie during the week he made a public commitment to doing something in the budget. That has to be encouraged. Deputy Heydon is the Minister for agriculture. Whatever deal they carve out is a matter for them and I wish them all well.

I am very supportive of the sector. It is really important but I want to tease out some of the questions. The witnesses came in here and made submissions. The Irish Grain Growers Group said that a financial package is its key ask. I want to hear more about the tillage expansion and sustainability scheme. We do not need verse and chapter on policies. The ask is for €92 million per annum over five years. The core element is a €350 per hectare payment. This is somewhat different to the IFA, which is campaigning for a €65 million tillage survival plan to be introduced by this Government. There is a variance between the two organisations, which is particularly interesting as well.

The witnesses made it clear that morale is low. I know farmers. We all know farmers. We saw that it is at an all-time low when we talked to farmers on the ground at the national ploughing championships in Tullamore. We know about cost inputs in detail. We do not need to go into them. We know about the particular exposure experienced by people who rent land. They need to rent additional land; that is part of the nature of it. I am not here to make any excuses for the Government. I am not party to any Government. I am an Independent. While I do not doubt the Government's support, there are many challenges on expenditure. There are many sectors within agriculture that need funding. That is an important point.

Will the witnesses touch on the greater tax relief needed on tillage?

Taxation is an important aspect of the income and in the past Irish grain growers have worked for long-term leasing tax break incentives for land rental in the tillage sector. They are on record as being involved in that in the past. Everyone in this room hears what the witnesses are saying. Everyone feels their pain and we have to wait to see what happens. In simple terms, will each of the groups give the committee three of the most important requests of their organisations that they want us to take from this meeting?