Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas ó chroí le toghthóirí dáilcheantair an Lú, a chur muinín i Sinn Féin nuair a toghadh mé féin agus an Teachta Imelda Munster don Dáil seo. Ní ligfimid síos iad.

The Covid-19 crisis has visited suffering and sadness on many and our thoughts are with these families. It has also forced us to look at how we organise our lives, work and society. We realise we can do better, from remote working to introducing universal healthcare for all, from cradle to grave and really tackling the climate crisis. Even during this crisis we still have to contend with other viruses such as drug dealing and criminal gangs. It does not need to be like this. We need to act together to provide for all and not just the few. Politicians must provide clarity to all sectors as we face possible changes so that we can operate in a Covid-19 world. We cannot operate without robust testing, sufficient PPE supplies and dealing with the tragedy that we have in some of our nursing homes.

The importance of a quality food supply and all those who work from farm to fork has been brought into stark focus in this crisis. Family farms have helped to ensure product on the shelves. They have kept us fed and their vital contribution must be recognised by the Government. We need real actions and not just rhetoric. The Minister, Deputy Creed, must make known to the European Union that the €76 million fund across Europe is pitiful. As has been stated here, it has been estimated that this works out at about €8 per farmer across Europe. The farmer from Knockbridge was right when he told me that you would not get enough for two pints, although he would have difficulty at the moment getting even one pint.

Operating capital is vital to farmers as much as it is to the SME sector. We need to ensure that the farming sector has access to debt-free liquidity. Money needs to be freed up from the BEAM scheme to help beef farmers who are facing brutal prices at the moment. I ask the Minister to consider a postponement for the time being of the BEAM requirement for bovine manure nitrogen production to be reduced by 5% over the next 12 months, because in order to meet it, farmers will have to sell herd at a time of terribly low prices.

Much of the red tape that was once a feature of sectors such as business, social protection, schools and healthcare has been rightly put to the side during this pandemic. Family farms need to see that happening too. Farmers continue to face quibbles and inspections over non-consequential boundaries that are holding up their single farm payments. That cannot be allowed to persist at the moment. The same flexibility that has been shown to other sectors needs to be shown to farmers.

Online audits for Bord Bia are proving troublesome. Instead of making life easier, some farmers are struggling to complete them without access to the know-how, proper technology and adequate broadband. Many farmers have difficulties with Bord Bia, but that is for another day. The audits can easily be postponed and I ask the Minister to consider that.

This House is seeking guidance for businesses as to how they can safely open in a staggered way when robust testing and other factors are in place. I ask the Minister to outline what steps he has taken regarding the care, safety and rights of casual labourers so we do not see a re-run of the problems caused by the Keelings incident. We need delivery for farmers and other sectors from this House.

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