Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will not rehash what happened last night. In one sense, we have taken a leap of faith and put our trust in the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, to negotiate and deliver the best possible deal for this nation.

We should ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, to come to the House for an urgent debate on CAP reform. The negotiation on the EU budget today is of huge importance to this country but we should not forget that almost 25% of those elected to the Seanad are elected through the agricultural panel. We must keep agriculture and the agrifood industry foremost in our minds. The current provision for the single farm payment is ¤1.7 billion and I urge, in so far as possible, that this figure is retained to ensure the survival of the farming sector, which is the backbone of our economic recovery. I wish the Taoiseach, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, and all those involved in the negotiations every success. It is proper and fitting that we all wear the green jersey on these occasions. In negotiations on CAP reform and on the Common Fisheries Policy, I would always wish our Minister the best in fighting for the best deal possible for the farmers and fishermen of this country. However, I sound a note of warning that if the single farm payment, worth ¤1.7 billion to this country, is in any way diluted or if Ireland is asked to contribute more than the back-up funding of one euro for one euro, there will be protests from farming organisations. The Irish Farmers Association, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association and the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association are really depending on the Minister, Deputy Coveney, to deliver. While I wish him well, I shudder to think what would happen if the deal for the farming organisations, this country and the farmers is less than we expect it to be.