Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh mo shean-chara, an tAire Stáit, an Teachta Killeen. Tréaslaím freisin leis an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Sargent, atá díreach imithe.

As my colleague, Senator John Carty, said earlier, the background is glum in terms of debating any part of the country's economy but particularly agriculture when we consider what farmers have gone through in recent weeks. Without going into the statistics, agriculture remains a huge contributor to the economy, with in the order of €8 billion in exports to more than 150 countries around the world giving gainful, worthwhile employment to many families, without which they would be forced to look for industrial jobs of which there are none at present.

Despite all the doom and gloom, like many other speakers I have the ultimate faith in the Irish farmer. There is nobody in the world who can farm like Irish farmers. There is nobody with their resilience, courage, optimism and endeavour, and that is a huge asset for us as a nation. Despite the glum backdrop, I am confident we are going forward in agriculture and that we can realise hugely optimistic targets such as doubling outcome over several years.

I did not get an opportunity to contribute to the debate on the flooding. I, too, extend my sympathy to everybody concerned on what must have been a traumatic experience and which may be an ongoing experience people will suffer for many months. The experience was brought to mind recently in terms of the unfortunate farmer in the west who was only concerned that there would be fodder for his cattle. When he was asked about his own needs he said that will come another day. He was more interested in feeding his cattle than in feeding himself in his marooned state. That is typical of the Irish farmer.

I compliment the Minister and the Department for a speedy response to the flooding problems. The €2 million fodder grant is a small amount of money but at least it was made available immediately and has been of some help. I hope in today's budget, which we are all awaiting with apprehension, there will be some further aids and supports for farming generally but particularly for farmers in the west and those who were affected by flooding.

I welcome the reference in the Minister's speech to seeking the extension of farm credits because there is no doubt that farmers are suffering and they will become more reliant on credit than ever before. It was not the farmers who created the problem that led to the setting up of the National Asset Management Agency and it was not the farmers who did the devil with the banks, so to speak. They have done their work and contributed-----