Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome this move and, as Deputy Fitzmaurice has done, I compliment Deputy Michael McGrath, along with his colleagues, Deputies Cahill and McConalogue, for pursuing this. We had this amendment before the finance committee and debated it with both Ministers, and the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, said he would consider it. It now has been dealt with and that is very welcome. The Minister of State is familiar with farming in Wexford where there is fairly good land, and similarly in my own area, but there are many farms which are very fragmented.

I also thank the Minister, Deputy Ross, for withdrawing the statutory instrument on tractors travelling on the roads. It has gone through officially today. Tractors have to travel on roads because farms are fragmented. We do not all have grey Fergusons and Fordson Dextas. We have modern tractors which can carry proper, safe loads and which have safe breaking systems which travel fast. I am not saying they should travel at a fast speed, but common sense needs to prevail. Farms are fragmented and have been since the days of the Land Commission and the division of the big estates. A great job was done then but unfortunately the smaller landholdings are being amalgamated into big estates once again, but in a different guise. That is a matter for a different amendment, and in my county especially no one can get a bloody patch of land apart from one business. It is very necessary because farms, farm families and farm enterprises are under enough pressure without this and everything else that is coming down the line. The change is welcome and will benefit the agriculture industry.

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