Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

I move:

That Dáil Éireann:

in view of:

the challenges facing Irish agriculture and the need to encourage the maximum transfer of farms into the ownership of young, qualified farmers;

the demographic challenge the current age profile of Irish agriculture presents;

the programme for Government commitment to "Continue to offer a range of supports to young farmers entering agriculture — including education, taxation measures and direct start-up aid";

the commitment in the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 to the rejuvenation of the Irish farming sector as a continued priority of Irish agricultural policy; and

the disproportionate impact changes to the disadvantaged areas scheme will have on farmers and their future viability;

condemns:

the Government's decision to suspend the young farmer's installation aid scheme, the early retirement scheme and to reduce payments under the disadvantaged areas scheme;

and calls on the Government to:

immediately restore the young farmer's installation aid scheme;

immediately restore the early retirement scheme; and

immediately reverse cutbacks to the disadvantaged areas scheme."

I wish to share time with Deputies D'Arcy, O'Mahony, Deenihan, Neville, McHugh, Carey, Bannon and Crawford.

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