Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Sargent, to the House and thank him for his contribution. In his various presentations here over the past two years, he has always been constructive and tried to paint a picture of how it can be with various improvements in Government and European initiatives. I wish him well in that regard.

In one sense the most important point, which he stated here previously, was when he properly reminded us of the value of the Irish agrifood industry, worth in excess of €8 billion with export capabilities to more than 170 countries. Our political and economic ambitions for Irish agriculture must be no less than the possible doubling of that output, which is attainable. The Minister of State has provided us with an interesting overview of where Ireland stands in the European and world supply chains. We recognise that global food shortages are becoming commonplace and that there will be strong growth in demand for agricultural products in continental Europe and Asia. There is a strong market for Ireland in responding to these requirements and challenges. We must aspire to doubling our agricultural output in current monetary terms.

The need for a stimulus plan has been mentioned to turn around the ship of State. We have seen such plans being introduced in France, Germany and the United States. It was an easy stimulus plan for those economies to introduce because it was partly based on their respective motor industries. If we want to do something similar here, it must be based on agriculture. There would be little point in stimulating other sectors where the result would be imports. If we can use agriculture in the official stimulus plan for the economy, we can transform rural Ireland and the nation's economic fortunes. Therefore, we must aim high.

The Minister of State has indicated where we can stand in the future in Europe and the world generally. Our task is to build that bridge by putting in place the required policies. I welcome the Minister of State's vision for 2020 and beyond, to which we must work towards. In the short-term, however, we must respond to the current crisis. From a planning perspective, CAP reform in 2013 is worthy of serious debate both here and elsewhere. The Minister of State has presented truthfully the frightening possibility of a serious change in European thinking, policy making and the funding available for Irish agriculture. That is something the Government, the Opposition and our MEPs must work to avoid. If, in the Minister of State's own words, there is to be substantial renationalisation of funding for agriculture, Ireland will be a significant net loser. We must all join in assisting the Minister of State and his Government colleagues in that big political project. We will certainly need to have further debates on the matter.

This debate is taking place just a few hours before the 2010 budget is announced by the Minister for Finance; therefore, we are speaking in a vacuum. Obviously, however, there are grave concerns for farmers in advance of the Budget Statement. The representations we have received most frequently in recent months concern the proposed carbon tax. I am sure the Minister of State - wearing his other hat as a member of the Green Party - could put up a strong defence for the carbon tax. I do not suppose any politician, on either side of the House, would oppose the general concept of such a tax. However, the additional burden that will be placed on a litre of tractor diesel and heating oil will need to be negated by some form of rebate. Unfortunately, farmers cannot walk or cycle around their fields with a plough.