Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

When one reads the report, one can see it says there was an increase, which was the figure quoted by the Minister, of 26,800 in employment in agriculture and fisheries.

Extraordinarily, however, there was no increase in income tax revenue or the number of farmers claiming the single farm payment. Are those concerned all farm labourers or deckhands? Let us get real: the Minister and I know one of the main reasons is that those with a small farm, PAYE job and on jobseeker's benefit could no longer claim the benefit on becoming a full-time farmer. To claim these as new jobs in the economy is nonsense. Is the Minister standing by the claim that there has been a net increase of 30,000 in employment in agriculture and fisheries in the State in the past year?

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