Michael Finneran (Longford-Roscommon, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Coughlan has been a brave and effective Minister who has stood up for the interests of the Irish farmer. I refer to a number of notable achievements since her appointment. A successful outcome was achieved in the special beef premium overshoot issue with continued buoyancy in beef and live exports, the live sheep trade to the Continent was reopened and the horticulture sector received a major investment boost in 2005. The Minister also secured European Commission approval to retain the REPS payment of €242 per hectare for commonage farmers without affecting their single payment entitlements. In addition, the farm waste management scheme has been boosted massively with grant aid of up to 70% available with an additional top up for young farmers. I welcome the new Finance Bill, which will retain stamp duty exemption for young trained farmers for a further three years, increase the tax exemption limits for income from farm leasing to more than five years and extend certain existing capital acquisitions tax, capital gains tax and stamp duty reliefs to cover EU single payment entitlements in appropriate circumstances.

I highlight the Government's successful defence of the 2003 Common Agricultural Policy reform deal in EU budget negotiations before Christmas. Under the terms of the deal, our CAP receipts are estimated to be more than €10 billion. On the nitrates directive, the priority is to ensure flexibility in the operation of the regime. We should all work to assist farmers in meeting the new requirements through information, advice, grant assistance for additional storage and the provision of new methods of disposing of excess slurry and other measures.

I thank the Minister for her support in reversing the decision to close the Teagasc office in Boyle in my constituency. It will continue to service 500 farmers in north Roscommon. I reject the Fine Gael pretence to be the friend of the farmer and rural Ireland. Fine Gael can only get into Government with Labour and the Green Party, neither of which is a friend of the farmer.

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