Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I am glad to support the Minister's amendment to the motion. I also welcome the recognition on all sides of the House of the importance of western counties and disadvantaged areas to farming and rural life and of the need for continued support for small and medium-sized farms. The amendment is not just words. In terms of the AOS scheme, the Minister has demonstrated his understanding of the importance of such payments to marginalised and disadvantaged farmers. This is welcome and I am glad it has been recognised that not all farming is the same.

I share the Minister's excitement concerning Food Harvest 2010. In the west, 68% of our communities live in rural Ireland. If there are to be any improvements to farming and food production, rural Ireland and the west will have a great role to play. The Food Harvest 2020 document creates possibilities for economic and social growth, which are important. Any improvement in farming is an improvement in the social conditions of the people living in rural Ireland. During the height of the construction boom in 2007, one in four men in the west were employed in the construction sector. This was a significantly higher rate than was seen anywhere else. The west is facing unique challenges but we have considerable potential for development. This document is a blueprint in that regard. The collapse of the construction industry meant the loss of supplementary off-farm income for part-time farmers, who were and continue to be badly hit. There is no alternative employment without leaving the farm.

The document deals with the exciting potential for growth in agriculture. Our renewable energy sector is another such area. The two do not exist in parallel universes. A part of our target for renewables includes bio-energy and biomass. Energy crops, whether they are used for electricity production or bio-fuels, require land. To what extent is there an interface between the two strategies, the Minister and his colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte? This is a land use matter. Given the trend for high-priced lamb, beef and milk, this seems to be the way we ought to go. We have the best grasslands in the world and a climate that allows our grass to grow for longer periods than is the case in many other areas. To what extent will we not be growing energy crops on arable land?

The fishing industry has great potential. The current complaint is that although fishing is occurring along the entire west coast, processing mainly takes place in Killybegs. Other groups have an appetite, including a group about which I wrote to the Minister, namely, Iascairí Chois Chósta Iorrais Teoranta. This group believes there is favouritism and that its fishermen are not getting the support enjoyed by fishermen in Killybegs for improving standards upon their vessels and, in particular, achieving the Marine Stewardship Council standard. It is going nowhere fast with Bord Iascaigh Mhara. Will the Minister investigate this matter? I also forwarded him the fishermen's request to meet him to discuss the location of the outfall pipe of the Bellanaboy Shell gas terminal and the agreement they arrived at with Shell. They want to avoid future complications.

As we look to agriculture as a way forward it seems ridiculous that we are going to close agricultural colleges, Mountbellew in particular. It is a disaster. For young farmers, a year in an agricultural college is well spent and equips them to deal with modern farming. The closure of the colleges is a retrograde step and I ask that Mountbellew not be closed.

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