Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Fianna Fáil Party for tabling this very important Private Members' motion. I welcome Joe Healy, the president of the IFA, Liam Dunne, the chairman of the IFA grain committee, Neilus O'Connor from Moyvane, vice-chairman of the IFA potato committee, great farmers like Mike Marshall and each and every other person in the Gallery along with the people who are outside because they could not get in here tonight.

I say to the Minister that this is a most serious situation. Farmers endured 11 weeks of rain and misfortune that no one would wish on his or her worst enemy. They are here today, but they do not want to be here. They do not want to be looking for compensation or a package, but they are here because they cannot balance their books at home. I implore the Minister and his colleagues to support the timely motion tabled by Fianna Fáil Members, and I again thank them for it. The Minister should do his level best to put together a package. In the overall scheme of things the amount of money requested is not enormous. It is actually a very ordinary amount of money if we think about it realistically.

I raised this issue with the Minister a number of months ago and I asked him for a package. He offered this interest-free loan and all that. They do not want that; all they want is a package to be put in place. Anyone on the Government side of the House who was comparing what we are seeking to the "cash for ash" is talking trash. I ask the Minister to do the right thing and support this fine group of people who are here today.

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