Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)

Six farmers leave agriculture per day. In 2005 the average Irish farmer lost €3,900 even when the single farm payment is taken into account representing an average loss of €75 per week per farm family. At the same time stealth taxes and input costs are increasing on a daily basis. The Government is putting the squeeze on farmers. Farm profits have fallen by almost 25% since 1995, two thirds of which is due to the rising costs of farm inputs such as feedstuffs, fertilisers, fuel and veterinary expenses, which have increased by 44%.

Teagasc claimed that the current WTO proposals of complete abolition of EU export subsidies and major reductions in import tariffs will mean that one third of cattle farmers and one third of tillage farmers would find it more lucrative to leave land lying idle and claim the single farm payment. This is in stark contrast to the commitment given in the 2002 An Agreed Programme for Government.

The stated aim was the continued enhancement of agriculture. If it continues any longer there will be no one left. The Government stated that decoupling would give the freedom to farm. In fact, the Government has introduced more bureaucracy and red tape. As a result of the nitrates directive, a farmer must use a thermometer before spreading fertiliser or he or she could end up in jail for six months or facing a fine of €3,000. No effort is being made to secure a derogation which the Government on numerous occasions committed itself to seek.

In the past two years the Government introduced new rules and regulations relating to animal medicines and transport. It also introduced new rules relating to the flock register for sheep which nobody, not even the Department's officials, can implement. The Minister presided over the demise of the sugar industry and failed to protect it. She turned her back on the people of Carlow and the employees of the sugar factory. Now she is preparing to give the lion's share of compensation to private interests, not to farmers who need the money to stay in farming and diversify.

On biofuels, the Government made many promises. After almost ten years in office, it still has not published an energy policy and does not know where it going on the issue. It gave commitments on food labelling. A consumer who purchases beef in a supermarket does not know where in the world it, or any other food product, originated. The Government has stood over this situation and not provided the resources to enforce food labelling. Beef being passed off as Irish could contain clenbuterol or antibiotic residues. It could, in fact, come from another part of the world. However, it appears to be satisfactory to turn a blind eye to this. The response of the Minister for Agriculture and Food is that it is a matter for the Minister for Health and Children. Again, this is a case of passing the buck — so much for joined up government.

The Government's policy on agriculture, the Agri-Vision report, contains no indications about funding commitments and sets no strategic targets for the future. Instead of hollow promises, Fine Gael is prepared to deliver for farmers and consumers and the economically important agri-food sector which the Government has ignored in the past eight and a half years. We will improve labelling to ensure consumers will know exactly what they are buying and where it originated from; promote Irish food through a green label which the Government promised to do four and a half years ago but is still only considering; reduce red tape instead of introducing more rules and regulations; and set up a viable biofuels industry. We are prepared to make the changes and the decisions. It is about time the Government gave us the opportunity to do so.

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