Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I commend Fianna Fáil on the motion. I heard a previous speaker saying that everyone supports small and medium-sized enterprises. Anyone who understands rural Ireland knows the reality is that members of the farming community keep many such enterprises alive in small towns by buying bags of meal and going into hardware shops. If we do not make sure we look after small farmers and family farms, we will be in trouble.

The serious problem that exists at present has quite rightly been pointed out. We know that bales are coming in at the moment, but that will not solve everything. The fodder shortage is accompanied by a worsening money shortage. We need to acknowledge that as a result of the pressure that is on farmers around the country at the moment, there are serious mental health problems within the farming community.

We need solutions. When the snow came to the east of the country a few months ago, everyone was told to put on their heating in the knowledge that an extra week's fuel allowance would rightly be paid. A few weeks ago, the Minister of State, Deputy Doyle, announced extra money for the forestry sector. Even though one in seven people works in the agriculture sector, which exports produce worth €1.1 billion each month, we seem to have glue in our shoes. We are stuck to the ground. This is a time when we need to show leadership and hope.

I can tell the Minister that I spoke to a farmer on my way here this morning who has 20 cows, with seven of them going to the factory in the morning. That farmer's bull is to be sold, and when we see such signs, it means we will be down in numbers down the road. We need to give these people hope.

There is a fear out there among farmers around inspections. Whatever the European Union or anybody else says, the Minister should make a decision to suspend inspections now until at least 1 June. It would take that bit of fear from farmers. I acknowledge the GLAS section of the Department, as I knew two farmers desperate for their payments, and the section helped immensely. Helping two farmers is no good and we must help whatever is out there in all the different sectors, especially in the sheep sector. One run was done in sheep welfare in December and we are hearing it will be May before the next one is done. That should go out to farmers. Whatever grants are held up, we need to ensure the job gets done.

We need to realise that the time we will see enough grass is three weeks away. Places are getting green but grass must grow. Cattle are still in sheds and farmers must either buy meal or, if the farmer lets out animals, fertiliser must be bought. Money is tight. The Minister could press a button for 120,000 or 130,000 farmers and give them even €1,000 each. We voted on a budget here and there is money in the kitty for agriculture, whether it is spent now or later. I am not saying the Minister should fork this out and never get it back. He should bring it forward so as to get farmers over the current hump. For a few days things were looking up a bit but last night put the tin hat on it again for another week. Cattle, sheep and whatever else must stay in. These farmers are struggling, day in and day out. Down the road there will also be a problem with the tillage sector as there has been damn all ploughing done. It will knock on at the other end. If the crops are not sown early, the farmer must rely on good weather again in September. We must ensure that sector will be covered as well.

We are all hearing of the money that will be in the budget next October. I have heard people saying we should tell farmers to cut back, and there is no point in saying some people will not have to cut back. We are relying on an economy where one in seven people works in the agriculture sector, either directly or indirectly. Do we want to see a situation where the family farm, which is rapidly disappearing, will be eliminated? Will the Government get its dream that the west of Ireland will be planted because it is more marginal land? Will we face the fact that the family farm that keeps the local small and medium enterprises going deserves to be supported? We need €25 million to bring it to what it was before. We have heard about pay restoration but €50 million has been cut from the sector. In fairness to the Minister, he followed the programme for Government and brought back the first €25 million. There is another €25 million to be brought back.

The suckler cow industry is disappearing by the day. I said this at Christmas but the Department denied it. The facts show the number of calves born. If we want to build an economy and keep that side of it going, we must provide the hope that farmers want now. They will go out and do the work but they need a few pounds in the kitty. They need a vision of where they are going, hope and leadership. They need the Minister to announce the €200 grant for the suckler cow. Otherwise, we will end up with all the calves from the south in the dairy herds coming up and there will be a drop in numbers. I ask the Minister to seriously consider what I ask of him.

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