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

I hear the points made by the Minister. Only for the fact I know a little about this, I would almost believe him. The Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy, indicated that it is €15 per 1,000 litres for the average farmer. I did not talk about the average farmer. I spoke about the farmer with the family farm. I am not worried about the €15. What worries me is that if the farmer calls in a contractor, there is no rebate or allowance for that under the normal taxation system. The farmer will hand it on. I am a contractor. When I am baling for somebody next year, I will hand it on. It will be coming in on 1 May and the bales will be made from May onwards.

It is as simple as that. It will be handed on. The Farm Contractors of Ireland have said this. Some 90% of farmers' work is done by contractors. I am not talking about paying €15 for someone to fee cattle or spread a bit of fertiliser. That is not it. We know there is double taxation and I acknowledge that part but I spoke about the family farm where a person is getting a contractor in to do the work. The Minister of State will know this well from his own neck of the woods. These people drive to work every day, because their farms are not sustainable on their own and therefore they will pay more tax. Obviously there is no rebate for driving to work. In addition, the fuel used to heat their houses is also diesel. These people are getting hit three times. It is probably increasing the cost of the food they eat too because it is hauled by a lorry, or at least some of it because they may be growing some of their own. This is the problem I am highlighting. I am not saying there is not certain alleviation for the double taxation that the Minister spoke of - that is agreed, I never disputed that - what I am highlighting is where it is catching these people on the treble. The Minister needs to understand that these are people on 60, 70 or 80 acres who may be farming beef for suckler and sheep. No one here will deny that they are struggling. That is the matter I am raising.

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