Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I thank my colleague, Senator Browne, for giving me the opportunity to speak on this issue before the Minister for Agriculture and Food makes a decision on the compensation package, in particular on the package of €144 million. We have debated this issue ad nauseam in the House and elsewhere in recent months. The crucial decision will have to be made by the Minister in the next few days, or weeks at most, as to how she allocates this fund of over €140 million. It is crucial that she reflects very seriously and deeply on the submission by the former growers and contractors, particularly those contractors who had specialised machinery.

The position as outlined by the authorities in Brussels is that a minimum of 10% must go to the farmers and contractors but I urge the Minister to give the maximum amount possible to the former growers and contractors, whose livelihoods have been wiped out by the stroke of a Brussels pen, which the Government was unable to prevent.

I read with some interest in one of the Sunday newspapers last weekend of how the chief executive of Greencore proclaimed defiantly that he was expecting the company would get the bulk of the compensation. I sincerely hope that will not prove to be the case. It is imperative that the farming community, the former growers and contractors receive the bulk of the assistance.

I am sure the Minister of State is aware of the dispute concerning the redundancy package for Greencore workers and I hope the Minister for Agriculture and Food can also ensure that some of the compensation fund is directed to the former workers, who are currently being treated scandalously by Greencore, which is failing to honour the recommendations of the Labour Court.