Brendan Daly (Fianna Fail)

I wish to record the appreciation of the farming community in my area for the work the Minister has done since she took up office. I recall occasions we stayed up all night debating agriculture issues in the House because agriculture is such a controversial and involved area that occupies the minds of politicians and farmers. It is strange to see so little attention being paid to the agriculture industry in the Oireachtas now. This is an indication of the success of the Minister and her Department in dealing with farming issues.

The proposals put forward by the Minister, which have been recently endorsed by farming organisations, are a good package for the agriculture industry and the farming community in particular. At a meeting in my area of some of the leaders of farming organisations, farmers and some Members of the European Parliament recently, the focus was more on World Trade Organisation discussions and such issues than on local issues in this country.

There are some issues to which I would like to draw the Minister's attention and I have written to her about some of them. Some representations have been made to me about difficulties in getting planners to undertake REPS 3 forms. Some people had not applied before the deadline of the end of October and there was a belief that the deadline would be extended to the end of November. I am aware of the problems that exist in that regard but I ask that a degree of latitude would be allowed to applicants who encountered difficulties in finding planners who would undertake the necessary work. I am unsure whether that matter can be addressed on a national basis. The problem has been raised with me by two people but its extent may be greater.

Small dairy farmers in west County Clare increasingly have to work outside the farm because they no longer have the capacity to earn sufficient income from milk. Many derive the bulk of their income from employment in places such as the Moneypoint electricity generation station and combine that work with farming as a sideline activity. Nevertheless, a number of farmers in the area remain heavily involved in milk production and are concerned about falling prices. I have been told that substantial quantities of Northern Irish milk is being dumped here, thereby depressing the market and putting further pressure on small dairy farmers, many of whom are my constituents. I am unsure of the extent of the dumping and, while I would presume it should not occur within the common market, the Minister might shed light on the matter. Milk imported from Northern Ireland is cheaper by approximately 20 cent per litre.

I will not rehearse the list of measures, the agreement is an excellent arrangement for the farming community and has been endorsed by its leadership. However, certain minor issues continue to affect people, such as capital gains tax on lands sold for road widening or other purposes. Recently, we received a delegation from farming organisations regarding changes pertaining to retirement. On behalf of the farming community in my constituency, I commend the Minister and her staff on the magnificent work they are doing. I wish her well in future negotiations and offer my support as she defends farmers' interests in the WTO.