Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Last Sunday I was at the very successful Clonmel Agriculture Show. I met many farmers whose combine harvesters were oiled and greased ready to start harvesting what looks to be a very promising harvest, thankfully. All we need is the weather. Those farmers who are planning on cutting and harvesting their crops have no idea of next year's requirements under the new Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, proposals. Neither the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, nor anybody else can tell them. When will they know?

The day they cut the corn, bale and take the straw off the fields is the day they need to start sowing winter wheat, barley and everything else for next year. Why is there a delay? Why are we trying to hound our farmers out of business by means of frustration and the imposition of punitive measures? They do not even know what they are supposed to do as regards next year's planting season, what they can grow and what measures they must adopt and adapt to. This is totally unfair to farmers. It is time the Government respected the agricultural industry for what it is, namely, the primary industry in this country.

See this speech in context