Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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I move:

That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to establish a body to be known, in the Irish language, as An Coimisiún um Thodhchaí na Feirme Teaghlaigh or, in the English language, as the Commission on the Future of the Family Farm; to define its functions; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

As somebody born, raised and living on a family farm, I am very glad to have the opportunity to introduce the Bill, honouring a key commitment made by my party. This legislation is about protecting the family farm and responding to, and planning for, the many challenges that family farms face. It is also about bringing forward comprehensive and practical recommendations on how this can be done in a proactive and timely way, and taking action to sustain family farms, recognising their value not only to our island but to our communities, both economically and socially.

The agrifood sector is our oldest and largest indigenous exporting sector. As many in this House will know, we export to more than 180 countries around the globe. We have achieved record exports in recent years with goods valued at more than €18 billion exported in 2022. Therefore, it is very obvious that this is something very much worth protecting.

Despite our renowned global reputation for producing food at the highest of standards and the billions of euro we hear about when it comes to exports, particularly the value of our beef and dairy, this is not matched in the profits and viability of our family farms. Farmers have never faced so many challenges and never has there been so much uncertainty, particularly about the generation coming forward. This really should be a matter of deep concern to this House.

We cannot, and should not, leave the agricultural sector to chance, reacting to some crises, leaving some farmers feeling alone and really struggling with no plan for that very real threat some of our family farms feel, especially when it comes to rising input costs and in the face of climate action pressures. We really are at a crossroads when it comes to Irish agriculture.

This legislation will establish a commission, the sole responsibility of which will be protecting and sustaining the family farm, reporting and making recommendations directly to the Minister and this House on securing its economic viability and future through generational renewal and succession planning, promoting a better understanding of how we produce food and supporting family farmers in the face of climate action. The commission will engage directly with farm organisations and, in some cases, with farmers directly. We have also incorporated accountability into this legislation to ensure we do not establish a talking shop. The commission recommendations will go before the Dáil. Each recommendation made by the commission will be responded to by Government and any rejected reason and a clear timeline will be given. Establishing this commission commits to the future of our family farms. It signals intent that challenges they face will be dealt with head-on by Government.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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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.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Is the Bill opposed?

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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No.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."