P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I refer to those who stood and gave these cuts a standing ovation on the night of the budget. Like poker players, they will sneak their hands under the table tonight to support the cruel and miserable cuts targeted at the weakest members of the farming community. No wonder they have reached a historic low in their support.

Why has the Minister abolished the farm retirement scheme, which encouraged those coming to the end of their working lives to make way for the new young and energetic farmers who will improve productivity? If this Government's policy is indeed to invest in the economy, where are the investments in agriculture in this budget? The investment programmes have been taken away and bureaucratic blockages have been erected. The Minister is trying to blame Brussels when all he had to do was copy his counterpart in Northern Ireland by lifting the telephone to request an extension to the scheme now being closed on 31 December. He has done nothing to improve the lot of the farmer or the fisherman, and he has done nothing for the food sector or food consumers.

We are approaching the Christmas break and I suggest that it is time for the Minister and his two Ministers of State, Deputies Killeen and Sargent, to go back to their offices and seriously consider what they can do to improve the future of the agricultural sector and alleviate the plight of farmers, some of whom have been camping outside the Department's doors for the past several days. They do not even have the guts to meet with the sheep farmers to whom they promised €28 million before the last election.

If the Minister cannot come back in the new year with a new deal for farmers, perhaps it is time that he pulled the curtains and got off the stage because all that can be said thus far of his tenure in Agriculture House is — a lot of damage done; do not do more.

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