Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Farmers are going through one of the most difficult periods experienced on family farms in many decades. Farm families are at an all-time low. Grain farmers throughout the country have lost their crops and many face ruination this year. The year 2016 is the fourth year in a row that many grain farmers are trading at a loss. I welcome the announcement of the round table meeting of tillage sector stakeholders due to take place next month. I expect that, following this meeting, increased supports will be put in place and compensation awarded to farmers who have suffered significant losses.

For many dairy farmers, 2016 has been the worst year in farming history, with milk prices at an all-time low. However, there has been an increase in global markets in recent months. These increases must be reflected at the first opportunity in prices paid to farmers. There must be no stalling on milk price increases by co-ops. Since Brexit, farmers have experienced a major drop in prices for beef, which has decreased from €4.70 to €3.70 per kilo. Our beef farmers are trading at a loss with these prices. This drop in prices to farmers has not been reflected in the prices paid by consumers. Suckler farmers are also experiencing great financial difficulties. I feel strongly that the suckler cow grant must be increased from €80 to €200 per cow.

There are serious issues that need to be addressed. The sheep grant has to be examined. A promise was made in the programme for Government to farmers, but it has not been delivered. Disadvantaged area payments have also been cut.

Given that this has been an exceptionally difficult year for farmers, I ask that the Government has forbearance, defers the payment of farmers' taxes due this year and spreads payments over the next five years. I am not asking that farmers be exempt from paying taxes. Rather, I ask that they be offered the opportunity to pay them over a period of five years in order to ease the major financial burden they currently face.

I also ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Michael Creed, to intervene with banks, co-ops and the Department of Social Protection to find solutions to providing aid for farmers at this difficult time. I have spoken at length with two of our national farming organisations, namely the IFA and the ICSA, in the past number of weeks. I have visited many grain, dairy, suckler and sheep farmers in recent weeks, from Kinsale to Mizen Head to the Beara Peninsula and Innishannon. I have seen the crisis we are in at first hand.

I reiterate my request that the Government does everything in its power to support farmers during this difficult time. I ask the Tánaiste to ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to visit farms that have been affected in rural Ireland and west Cork over the coming days. He can see at first hand the acres of grain that will not be harvested and instead ploughed into the ground.

I also ask the Tánaiste to consider tax issues facing farmers who are in significant financial difficulties, and spread the payments over five years. I reiterate that I am not asking for a tax exemption for farmers. Rather, I ask that payments to be spread over the next five years in order to ease their burden.

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