Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach. I am very concerned when he tries to devolve responsibility for dealing on behalf of Irish farmers to the EU Council of Ministers or whatever it is. What comes to mind is what my mother used to say, namely, if they jumped in the river would you?

The reality is that the farmers of Ireland depend on the Government, regardless of when the process began, to negotiate on their behalf to ensure that convergence does not go beyond 75%. Our fishermen are holding a protest in Cork today because this Government and previous Governments have sold them out. There is nothing to be gained for rural Ireland from the way the Government is carrying on. The eco-scheme I spoke about is another form of convergence.

The Minister spoke on the radio this morning and denied figures from his own Department that farmers stand to lose up to 32% of their basic farm payments. He denied that was the case, even though those figures have been produced by his Department. I am very concerned that the Government is on the right road with the negotiations. I ask it to do its best for what is our greatest asset.

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