Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

I want to focus on two issues, the early retirement scheme and installation aid. The majority of communications I received from my constituents were on these two issues. People applying for early retirement have signed over their land or rented it and have signed a legal document on which they cannot renege. Applicants who have applied for installation aid have done their 160 hours and obtained their green certs. Some of them have rented land and others have acquired land and signed legal documents for it. These people have gone out and purchased animals.

One man told me his father had black whitehead cows, but because their day is gone he went out and bought in-calf Limousin heifers, on which he spent a significant amount of money. He did so because he had a legal document and expectations. He did not spend 160 hours doing a course or apply for a herd number for the crack. He had a legitimate expectation that he would qualify for installation aid of €15,000. The man who signed over his land to a family member or who leased his land to a third party had legitimate expectations that he would be entitled to early retirement at 55 years of age.

There are people in my constituency now whose sons or daughters can, legally, put them out on the side of the road. Some people have agreed long-term land leases to third parties and they can effectively be put out on the side of the road. These people entered these schemes with the legitimate expectation that they would qualify for the grant, but in one fell swoop the Minister pulled the grants. It is for this reason that I am so surprised Deputy Aylward could come in here and read a prepared speech, particularly as he is a farmer himself.

We need young people to enter farming. It was for this reason the scheme was initiated. It proposed to encourage young innovative farmers, like the man whose father had black whitehead sucklers, but whose son wanted to improve his herd and move to Limousins. He spent the money, but is now left at the side of the road. He will not qualify for installation aid and his father who has signed over the farm to him will not qualify for the early retirement scheme.

Let us be serious about this issue. People speak about all the money that has been gained by Irish farmers from Europe. That money was for schemes that were set up to bring young, innovative people with new ideas into agriculture. This is what we need. I commend Deputy Creed on raising this motion in the House.

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