Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leader to try to ensure that the Minister, Deputy Coveney, will reverse these cuts, if possible. Second, if these cuts cannot be reversed, can some form of moratorium or derogation be given to the farmers concerned to enable them to reconsider what is happening? The reason this has happened is this eye from Mars or the eye in the sky has come out and taken photographs from many miles up. It is being stated that people have a certain amount of farmland and are over-claiming. This is a furtive and devious way to do that and it is unfair to the farming community. In my view, the matter is so serious that I propose an amendment to the Order of Business. I ask that the Minister, Deputy Coveney, or the Minister of State responsible for this area should come into the Chamber today for an urgent debate for one hour to give answers to the very depressed farmers - some of whom are suicidal - who were left without money for the Christmas period and who are facing a bleak spring.