Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank everyone who contributed here tonight and for the widespread support across the Chamber.

I also want to acknowledge the role played by my colleagues, Deputy Cahill, and Senator Paul Daly working alongside me on the agriculture committee. Senator Daly has also pushed this issue in the Seanad. I particularly want to acknowledge the effort made by the farmers who came here today and are in the Visitors Gallery. They are putting pressure on in order to get the support they need and have genuinely requested.

In his response, I detected a softening of the Minister's stance. It is unfortunate that we have had to push the matter this far. It is also unfortunate that we have not had a fund until now. Farmers, including those here today, who have been affected by the bad harvest have had to face bills sitting on their table. Many of them are considering their financial situation and their ability to remain in the tillage sector. The Minister appeared to say that he is willing to go to the Tillage Forum to consider how a scheme might work. That is what I picked up from his response, but I hope he was not giving some false hope. The matter should not be allowed to drop.

I have no doubt that the motion before us will be passed overwhelmingly. It urges the Government to engage further with the IFA, other farming organisations and with the Tillage Forum to scope out how a fund could be put in place to provide the necessary assistance for those who have lost their crops. I will leave it to the Minister to do that.

Considering the strong support in the Dáil, the fact that our motion will be overwhelmingly supported, and in light of the Minister opening the door to explore this further, I ask him to withdraw the Government amendment. He should not force this to a vote, but take the matter forward by engaging with and genuinely exploring the plight of those have been significantly affected by a poor harvest.

I endorse the motion and thank everyone for their support. I encourage the Minister to deliver a compensation fund scheme.

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