Noel Coonan (Fine Gael)

It seems to be a matter of self-promotion, but what was happening while all of that was going on in that 16-month period? I will tell the Minister what was happening. The sugar industry was wiped out, we had the debacle of the nitrates directive and the closure of Teagasc stations. We have heard much about research and development but research stations and Teagasc offices were closed across the country. We had a decline in the growth in forestry, serious continued threats arising from the WTO trade talks proposals and seven farmers a day leaving agriculture, which adds up to 2,500 per annum. That is what was happening.

We have an early retirement scheme that is not working and to which amendments were not introduced. We have anti-farmer tax laws which are impacting on farmers' ability to consolidate their holdings. A penalty of 29% applies, comprising 20% capital gains tax plus 9% stamp duty. That is the penalty imposed by this Government and demonstrates its commitment to farmers.

The motion proposed by Senator Callanan is all about leadership and commitment to the agricultural community. I have not seen any such commitment from the opposite side of the House in the last 16 months. If one takes the sugar industry, 3,700 growers were gobbled up by greedy Greencore. Who is responsible for that? The Minister, the Department and Greencore.