Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On the same issue, with the massive increase in the cost of fertiliser, agricultural contractors are facing an awful dilemma. At this point, the only support the Government has provided to the farmers and fishermen of Ireland is 2 cent by way of the rebate scheme that was announced. Any day of the week one now has to put €650 worth of agricultural diesel into a tractor that will be mowing or going hard all day. It is impossible for these contractors to say that they are going to be able to provide a service to the farmers - their customers - this year. It is a matter of absolute urgency that the Government looks at this. We need our farmers to produce. First, we need them to be able to have silage and, second, hay has to be grown and saved for us to have our food produce. We desperately need the Government to support the fact that agricultural diesel is so expensive now.

See this speech in context