Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The family farm is the cornerstone of rural communities and regional economies across this island. Family farming is almost uniquely Irish, particularly in a European context and, therefore, the Irish family farm must be protected.

We, as a society and as political representatives, have increased the demands on our farmers. We expect them to produce the highest quality food in the world, which they do, and we expect them to do that within the strictest animal welfare, environmental, biodiversity and climate rules in the world, which they do.

What is needed is fairness, including a fair Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, fair prices and fair play. Our farming families face an onslaught of challenges, including an immediate fodder shortage. As their margins are hammered by rising energy and grain costs, they are tasked with playing an increasingly important role in our response to the climate and biodiversity crises. When Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael representatives in Ireland and Europe add to farmers' burden by expecting them to do more while receiving fewer supports, they are part of the additional pressure. The challenge for all of us in public life is to put in place a framework that will allow our farming community to meet the challenges we face while also allowing them to remain in business. Successive Governments have failed in that regard.

Sinn Féin's legislation mandates the Government to establish a commission on the future of the family farm. The commission will be charged with examining all the needs of the family farm, including what is required to contribute to biodiversity protection and emissions reductions, as well as the supports necessary, as those reductions are being made, to ensure the continued economic viability of the family farm. Euro for euro, the Government cannot deny that the current CAP budget provides much less funding than it previously did in real terms while putting many more obligations on farmers. The Government's proposed climate action measures pay lip service to assistance for agriculture and rural communities but offer virtually nothing by way of meaningful supports. It is time for a comprehensive plan to ensure the viability of the family farm for generations to come. Nothing we have seen from the Government to date suggests it has a plan to achieve this. The legislation Deputy Kerrane and I are bringing forward sets out a mechanism to deliver such a plan. I commend it to the House.

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