Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I thank my two colleagues for allowing me to say a few words on this important issue which is causing grave concern in rural Ireland. I thank the Minister for his presence here at this late hour. We hope that he will pass on our concerns to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

It was sadly ironic that last week as the Government shut down the Dáil at the end of the political season, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was shutting down a significant income stream for rural Ireland and farming families. REPS has been an unqualified success in bringing income to rural communities, improving and maintaining our environment and giving farmers some degree of certainty in their financial planning. Thousands of farmers are in a state of disappointment, despair and shock following the Minister's decision.

Last weekend we all met farmers who were deeply concerned and angry and very surprised at the Minister's announcement. No agricultural issue in recent years has caused the same degree of disquiet. It is important that dialogue between the farming organisations and the Minister and his officials be re-started at the earliest possible opportunity. There is some talk of an alternative scheme but its details are sketchy. The bottom line, however, is that the combination of EU and State money that REPS ploughed into agriculture, the rural income stream and the environment is being significantly reduced and for some people it will be totally cut off. That is unacceptable. I ask the Minister, notwithstanding that it is not his decision, to convey our sincere concerns to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and ask him to reconsider this urgently and try to bring some degree of aid and hope to Irish farmers.