Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

Lest the impression be created that farmers seek a special deal, they do not. Farmers and the farming organisations I have consulted acknowledge the difficult financial circumstances and say they are prepared to shoulder their fair share of the burden.

Previously I remarked on budgetary U-turns and said we should treat this budget as a work-in-progress. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Lenihan, has exempted minimum wage recipients from the 1% levy. Since the Minister has the Teagasc farm income survey at his fingertips, will he consider exempting anyone in receipt of farm assist, which is top-up payments from the Department of Social and Family Affairs or the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs? Will the Minister, Deputy Smith, consider exempting any farmer in receipt of farm assist from the reduction in disadvantaged area payments? The Minister can talk about increases, but remember that behind all these figures are farm families subsisting on annual incomes of less than €20,000. These payments make up a substantial part of that income. Even those on such minimum wages say they are prepared to shoulder their fair share of the burden. However, this is not a 1% levy on farm incomes, it is a significant proportion of their income. There are farmers throughout the country losing between €5,000 and €6,000. Those in disadvantaged areas are set to lose on average €1,000. Will the Minister exempt those in receipt of farm assist for a start?

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