Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

The Minister has tabled an amendment that fails to address the three critical issues before the House — the installation aid scheme, the early retirement scheme and disadvantaged area payments. If the Minister wants a debate on the CAP health check in the House, I will have it any day. If he wants to come in to defend the 5% increased modulation, we will debate it or consider how it should be spent. If he wants to come to the House to debate the crisis in the dairy industry that will not just put dairy farmers out of business but which threatens the viability of co-operatives and plcs involved in processing milk, I would welcome such a discussion. The Minister should not abuse parliamentary privilege by tabling a motion that fails to address the issues before the House.

Like all my colleagues I have attended meetings in Blarney, Dunmanway and other public meetings organised by Macra na Feirme in Tullamore. I have witnessed the anger of farmers, who acknowledge the difficult times and are quite prepared to shoulder their fair share. I heard one farmer state that if the Government had put 2% on the top rate of tax it would have been fine because it would have been a measure reaching across the board and would have affected everybody. The Government's action has involved a disproportionate impact on the most marginal of farmers, who are by and large involved in marginal enterprises. These include the sheep and beef sector in particular, involving the cattle and sheep men of the west of Ireland.

Considering the electoral history of Fianna Fáil in the west of Ireland, such people have been significant supporters of the party, but they have been the hardest hit by what the Government has proposed in this amendment. We recognise the very difficult times being experienced by the country and we were a lone voice for many years calling for frugality and restraint with taxpayers' money in seeking public service reform in the benchmarking area.

We regret that the Government did not heed those warnings preached alone on this side of the House for many years. We acknowledge the serious crisis facing many people now losing their jobs. That is why we have published a different and detailed budgetary framework that will finance the reintroduction of installation aid and the early retirement scheme, as well as reversing the cuts in the disadvantaged areas scheme.

I appeal to my colleagues on the Government benches who represent rural constituencies to ask themselves if what they are voting for tonight is right for the agriculture industry. We are at a crossroads and many young people who want to enter farming have been dealt a serious psychological blow. Meanwhile, many years of planning by elderly people who want to retire from farming have been devastated. If there was a free vote in the House, this motion would be unanimously backed by Members from all sides. I appeal to Fianna Fáil Members to trust their better judgment on this issue and support the motion.

Amendment put.

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