Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I accept the reply that the Minister of State has given on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. Changes were made. We can read out at length the data and the tables regarding the various taxes and tax rates, etc., but the reality for the farmer is that when they go to fill a 5-gallon drum with diesel, it is costing them twice the price. That is the reality. There needs to be a check on that.

From speaking to the farmers last night, and from speaking to other farmers since then, I emphasise that farmers need to see a reduction to below €1.20 per litre. That is what they are asking for. It is at €1.50 per litre now. It needs to go at least below €1.20 per litre. That is still a very large increase on what they had this time last year. However, that is what they are asking for. I am asking the Minister of State to bring that message back to the Minister for Finance. That is the message that we need to get through. We need a reduction in agricultural diesel, in green diesel, to below €1.20 per litre and to keep it at that in order that farmers will be able to be productive as they can be into the future.

If farmers cannot buy the diesel they need to be able to cut their silage, raise their animals and do all the things they need to do, there will be a fodder crisis next winter and there will be knock-on effects from that. One of those effects will be harvest problems. The question will then arise as to where we will get our food.

While there may be headline figures showing that farming family incomes are up, the reality for many farmers, certainly in my part of the country and especially for farmers who are dependent on sucklers and sheep, is that their incomes are very low. Even if incomes trebled from what they are now, never mind going up by 30% or 40% on last year, those farmers would still on low incomes. In fact, if one added up the hours they put into their work, they are on well below the minimum wage, as bad as it is in this country. They need a commitment that the Government will bring the price of agricultural diesel below €1.20 a litre, which is what I am asking the Minister to do.

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