Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I am disappointed with the representation of Members on the other side of the House. I would like to know where are all the Members opposite. Are they hiding or cowering somewhere rather than facing the music?

This is practically the only parliamentary instrument available to the Opposition to apply pressure on the Government. Contrary to the view of some Government backbenchers, people will note how they vote tomorrow evening. I have no doubt about that. I have said previously to the Minister that if he intends to close down agriculture, he should not do so all at once. The Minister should give the primary producers, farmers, a fighting chance of survival until such time as a person with some understanding of the industry comes along.

There are no better farmers worldwide than Irish farmers. I am proud to count myself in that category. It gives me no pleasure to state that the Minister, his officials and personal staff are out of touch with the needs of the industry. Sheep farmers are maintaining a vigil outside the Minister's office for a reason, namely, the Minister needs to make a decision. I am hopeful he will make the right decision. The German Minister made the decision to support Germany's dairy farmers immediately following health check. The Minister, if he has the will, can do the same for sheep farmers.

There must be hope for the thousands of farmers following the health check. These released funds must be used to soften the Government's crazy, ill-informed, poorly judged budget proposals. It appears to me that the Minister, through these cumulative cuts, is seeking to rationalise the sector and to force small-medium producers out of business. Those producers are my friends and my neighbours and the friends and neighbours of my colleagues on this side of the House and of those who sit behind the Minister. Fine Gael will not stand for this.

Funding for the disadvantaged areas scheme is down 20%. These farmers, who work on the most marginal lands in the country, eke out a living in areas where nobody else would, based on their ingrained knowledge of their land and property. What the Minister has done to these farmers is, in agricultural terms, akin to the removal of medical cards from the elderly. I can only describe the suspension of installation aid on retirement as, to use a term previously used, eating one's own seed potatoes. Young vibrant farmers wishing to enter the profession are being penalised.

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