Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To balance the debate, I would like to highlight the importance of agriculture. Sometimes, I have sympathy for the Minister because I am sure when the record is read later, people will wonder about the balance of the debate in regard to the current agricultural crisis. There is a major crisis, as previous speakers said, across every agricultural sector, be it beef, dairy, tillage or suckler. My background is in the pig sector and the situation is serious at the moment. All these sectors create invaluable employment. Reference was made to the number of jobs created in the dairy sector but significant jobs have been created in the pig and beef sectors and through related services. I brought a long document but as I have only have a few seconds left, I would like to draw the Minister's attention to farmers facing a double crisis following the flood damage caused by recent storms. A cohort of tillage farmers in east Cork whose land has been affected by salt drift from sea mist caused by the storms should be looked after. It is important that they are addressed in the context of compensation and I ask the Minister to give this attention.

I hope agriculture will be given more recognition in the House. I can see why Dáil reform is needed, as some Members do not realise that the agriculture industry is the backbone of this economy.

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