Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I read with disdain an article in the farming section of the Irish Independent today that a lady is getting 20 cent a litre for her milk. She is part of the Glanbia co-operative. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister to the House for a serious debate on this matter. The woman is getting one fifth of the price the consumer pays for the milk, the same price she got in 1983. The family is on the bread line and depends on its savings. We must depend on indigenous industry and we should be supporting farmers. I am sure the meaning of co-operative is obvious - it is a body made of up of parties co-operating and supporting each other. Nevertheless, Glanbia is ripping off our farmers so what is the Government going to do about it? It is incumbent on the Leader and the Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government to sort out this issue. There will be farming families who will not be able to put food on the table.

The Minister for Finance spoke at a meeting of the Irish League of Credit Unions on Saturday and was clapping himself on the back for the way in which he has brought the country forward, etc. He was speaking about how those in Europe are amazed at the steps he has taken in the budget and how no other European government would have been able to deal with the public service as he has done by imposing these dreadful levies.

I have been canvassing, as I am sure the Leader has, and we have met many people who are extraordinarily angry because they are down €50 or €60 per week. I assure the Minister, Deputy Lenihan, that when the full facts of this budget come to affect people at the end of May, there will be riots. The Minister stated that there have not been riots on the streets like there would be in France. The wrath of the Irish people has not yet come to the fore and this Government will know about it on 5 June.