Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Creed, and my colleagues for sharing time on this important agricultural motion. We are living in a different economic era. We know there is very little money in the country. In view of Deputy Cowen's recession, as Minister for Finance for four years and as Taoiseach, we are brought to the point where we must look at savings to be made. We in Fine Gael are not immune to that fact, but we object to the productive sector of the economy being allowed to be further eroded and the financial viability of job creation in the future, whether in manufacturing, agriculture or the food industry, being called into question. This is not the way to address our problems.

The economic climate is so serious and so consequential on the decisions made by the previous Government to increase our cost base so tragically that it is allowing farmers and those in the food industry to be consequential people in rural Ireland. There is no point in having Deputy Ó Cuív as Minister for rural development dispensing money for rural assist schemes if there are people already in the food industry in agriculture who are gainfully employed and want to remain so. Agriculture was always the old reliable for rural survival and job creation in rural Ireland. The Government wants to curtail incomes to farmers and new entrants into our economy.

The budget has been changed already on three occasions — on health, social welfare and the income levy. I can tell the Minister where he can get money. There are five sets of inspectors criss-crossing Ireland carrying out inspections on farms under the nitrates directive and other issues. Cut their expenses and those post immediately.

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