The Fine Gael record in looking after farmers' interests has always been abysmal, never more so than under the coalition Government of 1982-7. Not alone did that Government double the national debt and raise interest, income tax and inflation rates to their highest levels ever, it did nothing for the agriculture sector which was being strangled by these high interest and inflation rates. Fine Gael could never be accused of any economic innovation or of negotiating a good deal for Irish farmers in Brussels or anywhere else.