Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

Some 55% of funding for REPS emanates from Brussels and a huge number of farmers depend on these payments. Many part-time farmers would have been dependent on additional employment in the construction sector and now their only source of income is in the area of farming. Farmers have been affected by the deferral of payments under the 40:40:20 option relating to waste management, the abolition of the early retirement scheme and the removal of suckler cow grants.

I speak on behalf of these people by endorsing the importance of farming and agriculture to our country.