Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The budget leads me to think a lot about the recession of 2008 and how this country got back on its feet. Farmers were instrumental in that. Since then, a lot has happened - Brexit, Covid and the cost-of-living crisis. We are not spending the corporation tax. I know the budget delivers an allocation that is reduced by 10% for agriculture. It is disgraceful that at a time when all the Government parties want to talk about its surplus and its success, it would slash the budget of the Department that represents the backbone of this country.

It really shows exactly what Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party think of farming families. This Government is turning its back on the 6,000 farming families in my constituency and that will not be forgotten. I welcome the funding for ewes. I called for that nine months ago, although I called for more than has been given. It is shocking that no money was set aside for a dairy exit scheme. The true face of disdain for farmers came in the form of there being no money for an ash dieback scheme, an issue I have raised with the Minister many times, as I will continue to do. This is not a good budget for farmers and this Government should hang its head.

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