John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

At a time when thousands of people in my area and other rural areas are losing jobs in the construction industry, the Government has pulled the rug out from under the agricultural sector in terms of supporting the transference of land from the older generation to the younger generation of farmers under the age of 35. We have heard countless Ministers over the years lament the fact that there are not more young people involved in agriculture. Yet the Government has abolished the grants for new farm entrants and the early farm retirement scheme. I hope there will be a conversion by the Government in this regard, as it seems to be considering numerous other reforms in regard to the Budget Statement announced two weeks ago.