Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Creed for sharing time with me and allowing me to contribute to this debate. It is ludicrous that we have only one hour and 15 minutes to discuss such a major industry.

There is no scope for savings under the farm-gate scheme. In the more than 40 years that I have been involved in farming, farm organisations and politics I have never seen so many young progressive farm families under such economic pressure. Some of these farmers expected to get installation aid, which of course they did not get. All of them received a cut in their payments and the REPS payment has been removed from other farmers, which they had already committed to covering the cost of payment on farm building loans, etc. The decisions on these cuts and delayed payments were all in the Minister's hands.

The price of milk, beef and pigs has collapsed. The mushroom industry is now available to a small number of farm families who are also under pressure. As a constituency colleague, the Minister should have a full understanding of the needs of people in areas such as Cavan-Monaghan. I implore him to stand up and be counted at Cabinet and European levels. The European Union has not been used to the full. I know that to be the case. Without the presence of the agriculture and food industries in our constituency and elsewhere throughout the country, what alternatives do we have?

Farmers in Cavan-Monaghan have invested more than most in the pig and poultry industries and in the dairy and beef sectors and they deserve support not only for their own sake, but for the future of the area. The Minister of State, Deputy Trevor Sargent, should show us the sheep farmers who agree with the proposed tagging system.

Even farmers who have an income but have a cashflow problem find it almost impossible to get the much promoted farm assist payment and their current financial problems are not being recognised by the inspectors. It is in the best interests of consumers and farmers that the industry is managed properly at Government and EU levels. Without leadership and support, farmers cannot survive the lack of income and the failure of banks to provide normal capital funding. I, too, would like to know from the Minister what exactly the banks said to him. I know what they have been saying to farmers on the ground.

The Minister said he is delighted that the milk quota is gone. I am not sure the farmers of the north west would agree with him. The producers of winter fatners cannot get funds and that is affecting the cattle trade.

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