Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The issue still remains that over the past several months farmers have incurred many costs they normally would not. They have had to purchase additional fodder and feed. These are costs that will remain even after the cattle are put back on the land.

What will the Minister do to help those farmers in extreme financial difficulty? Will he pledge to ensure that the agri-environment option scheme, AEOS, disadvantaged area aid and all the schemes administered through his Department will be fast-tracked to ensure the farmers get the financial support they need? Will he give that guarantee here this evening? Will he ensure that the banks comply with their promise to actively engage with and support the farming community at this time of pressure? We are all quick to run down the banks but I got a phone call during the week from the manager of the local AIB branch in Mullingar who read an article I wrote in the local paper. He told me that if anybody who comes to my constituency office is not getting fair play he wants to know about it so that he can have direct intervention. I welcome that, and I complimented him on being proactive in his approach because this is a serious problem, and I want to acknowledge that.

I take this opportunity to highlight another issue for the Minister. One of the most serious issues affecting farmers who come to my constituency clinic is the changes the Minister made to the farm assist programme. In the two previous budgets the amount of farm income being assessed increased from 70% to 85% and from 85% to 100%. Why has there been such a targeted approach to the less well-off farmers in our society?

Some previous speakers criticised us for not being proactive enough in respect of the agriculture sector. I would remind them that it was our colleague and former Minister, Deputy Brendan Smith, who produced Food Harvest 2020, a document the Minister likes to claim as his own. If the Taoiseach had a real commitment to the agriculture sector, after four months he should give the Minister a hand by appointing a Minister of State with responsibility in this area and not keep it as a carrot to hold over disgruntled backbenchers.

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