Noel Coonan (Fine Gael)

The savage cutbacks imposed in the recent budget and Finance Bill are coming home to roost in the farming community with the announcement yesterday by Teagasc that a number of offices are to be closed. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food to make a statement on this matter. Farmers are protesting at the increased levies and charges which are being imposed on them and which they are being asked to carry at a time when processors are showing significant increases in profits. They are planning to withhold cattle from the factories next week.