Noel Coonan (Fine Gael)

Recently a neighbouring farmer was attending a long-standing appointment with a consultant when his telephone rang. It was an inspector from the Department of Agriculture and Food, announcing he was to visit my neighbour's farm in ten minutes. At such short notice, there was no way the farmer could facilitate the inspection. As a result, he suffered drastic penalties in his farm payments for this and next year. This is unacceptable.

Farmers whose lands are acquired through compulsory purchase orders for road developments are penalised by 30% in capital gains tax and 9% in stamp duty. The policy should be more focussed on consolidating farm holdings. Will the Leader arrange a debate with the Minister for Agriculture and Food on these issues, as it is long overdue?