Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)

There was a great debate on this point on Committee Stage. The Minister was present for the debate and gave an undertaking to revisit this matter. This is the greatest sidestep I have seen in a long time. This amendment does not help the people I spoke about on that day. Deputy Dan Neville raised the matter the Minister has addressed but she did not address the lack of a cap on farms owned by the person in the nursing home or that person's spouse. Under normal circumstances, where someone who owns a house and a farm goes to a nursing home, the valuation of the house will be capped at 5% for three years. We do not like this concept but in the times we are in it appears there is no alternative. The amended legislation provides that, if a farmer with 40 acres of land remains in a nursing home at rates of €800 per week, which will be normal in years to come, no cap is put on the assets of the business or farm, unlike the three year cap on the residential house. Taken to its logical conclusion, with agricultural land valued at €10,000 per acre, the 40 acre farm is worth €400,000. At €800 per week over ten years, the cost of nursing home care also equals €400,000. When that person is called away from this world, the Revenue Commissioners will own the farm rather than the son or daughter who had hoped to inherit it. There is an important rural culture in Ireland, as rural Deputies from any party will confirm, that it is expected that a son or daughter who helps his or her parents will inherit the farm.

The amendment proposed by the Minister of State does not cover the type of case I referred to on Committee Stage. This is the problem every farming family will see after this legislation is passed. There is no way Fine Gael will back this legislation because of this fundamental flaw. The amendment tabled by the Minister of State is better than having none but the Minister of State and the senior Minister should not think they are getting around the principle problem of the farming community by tabling this amendment because it has nothing to do with the principle on which I spoke.

The Minister of State comes from the same part of the world as I do and she fully understands the expectation one generation has of the previous generation, namely, that the younger generation will inherit the farm. Can the Minister of State imagine the bitterness in families? This measure will split families. If this measure is brought to its logical conclusion, the Revenue Commissioners will own the farm after ten years. On behalf of every farming family in the country, I could not be more opposed to this oppressive legislation.

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