Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The record of this Government contrasts with that of Fianna Fáil, which suspended the early retirement and young farmers installation aid schemes, cut the disadvantaged payments scheme by €34 million and halved the rate of the suckler welfare scheme. That is before we reach the worst cut of all. According to a media report from 2009, which was three years ago:

The has posed a major headache for Taoiseach by lobbying for Tánaiste as Agriculture Commissioner. has learned she was proposed to government officials as the prime candidate for the plum job at a crucial juncture in the reform of farm subsidies. However, if the Taoiseach were to accede to the requests he would further risk his already slim majority.

I invite Deputy Ó Cuív to take time in his reply tonight to outline whether he argued for the Government of the time to take the hit and lose a Dáil seat so that Ireland might have an agriculture Commissioner at this crucial time.

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