Noel Coonan (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following:

"Seanad Éireann condemns the Government for its failure to recognise the difficulties in Agriculture and Food and calls on it to take some measures to re-establish confidence in the sector."

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire go dtí an Seanad arís.

The Minister for Agriculture and Food's colleagues have attempted to deflect attention away from the crisis that is facing agriculture at present, a crisis that is totally of the Government's making. Farming, whether on a full-time or part-time basis, must not be allowed to become a countryside maintenance activity, as appears to be happening under the Fischler proposals. Farming must continue to be a rewarded profession that will give a viable way of life to our many farming families.

Ireland's position must be defended with vigour, determination, courage and, above all, hunger for success – qualities and traits the Minister has, I am afraid, been lacking for some time. Perhaps he has spent too long in the Department of Agriculture and Food. The evidence points to the fact that farmers and farm leaders have lost confidence in the Minister. It points to the fact that the Minister no longer has clout at the Cabinet table. He is, in fact, perceived by many as being the "yes Minister" to the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy.

The Minister has seen agriculture being plunged into the depths of despair, but he is sitting back and doing nothing about it. The Government's sustained and vindictive attack on the farming community has forced farm families from every part of Ireland to take to the road, converge here in Dublin and plead for help and their very survival. Something like this has not happened since the Minister's party's former disgraced leader, the then Minister for Agriculture, left the IFA sitting in the rain on O'Connell Bridge some decades ago.