Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

Last year the IDA spent €2.3 billion on capital investment and job creation. It achieved 9,216 jobs, but in the same timeframe some 9,363 jobs were lost. The spending figures for the agriculture sector vary, but approximately €2 billion or €3 billion was spent on the sector. Some €66 million was spent on the early retirement scheme and installation aid. During this time, the moneys were put in to support an industry that produces €9.2 billion to the Exchequer, 75% of which is spent in the domestic economy. It is reckoned that IDA-type industry jobs only spend approximately 8.1% in the domestic economy.

I do not raise these figures in order to criticise the IDA. No doubt it will continue to go out and spend money to try to bring in new industry and employment, be it in IT, financial services or wherever. It will introduce imaginative, stimulus packages to do this. The installation aid and early retirement scheme were but a stimulus package for farming and young farmers. We need young, trained professional farmers and at the first sign of optimism, we saw an upturn of 25% — not an insignificant figure — in the number of young students enrolling in agricultural colleges.

However, what has the Government done? It has removed €9.3 million from its spend on what was the most effective stimulus package ever put in place for farming. It has removed a further 13% from research and development, 9% from Bord Bia and a further 8% from Teagasc. Research, training and education have all been affected and taken away from our greatest natural resource. A month ago, Gordon Brown put in place an investigation into the security of food for the 70 million citizens for whom he is responsible, but we are potentially closing down our greatest natural resource.

I will make two further points. The national farm survey shows the average full-time farmer's income is €43,900. If we remove the average of €900, which is the amount taken away from disadvantaged areas, this equates to a levy of over 2% on top of a levy. Ordinary workers would need to be earning €90,000 to have the same amount of money removed.

I heard the debate today and have seen news reports that inform us that certain fish are endangered species. Outside the Department of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, there are two endangered species, sheep and sheep farmers. The Minister can make a decision on the sheep sector, but he is waiting until 16 December for some reason. I speak as a sheep farmer who produces one of the healthiest meats one can eat. If the Minister wants to preserve the sector, he should swallow his pride and make an announcement tonight rather than wait until 16 December. The sheep and sheep farmers will stay camped outside the Department until he does.

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