Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I had asked the Leader, Senator Buttimer, to make allowance to deal with comments made by the German Vice Chancellor about significantly reducing funding for the CAP. I understood that the Leader was to facilitate some feedback in this regard. He gave such an assurance here yesterday, so I will touch on that briefly later but I will now focus on the main subject.

Farming remains an integral and most important sector in the Irish economy. The agri-food sector contributes more than €24 billion to the Irish economy, accounting for almost 10% of Ireland's exports and providing 7.7% of Ireland's national employment. Including all inputs, such as processing and marketing, employment in the economy in the agri-food sector is as high as 10%. In economic terms, the agri-food sector contributes 7% of the total GDP of primary agriculture-related activities, accounting for up to 2.5% of GDP. These are all statistics from Teagasc.

In this week of farm safety, and after recognising the importance of the agri-sector to the Irish economy, we also need to be cognisant of the fact that the agri-sector, particularly primary farming activities, also contributes a series of harrowing statistics. Given its contribution of 7% to the GDP of Ireland's economy, we need to seriously question, investigate and resolve together how the sector accounts for a disproportionately high number of workplace-related deaths in comparison to other sectors. I and my party acknowledge that farming is a career choice - not really a career choice, but rather a vocation - and involves an often dangerous working environment with any amount of workplace hazards to contend with on a daily basis in order to provide an income for farming families and rural communities throughout the island of Ireland.

That said, with farm-place deaths accounting for 55% of workplace deaths in 2014, 32% in 2015 and that trend continuing this year at 41%, we still need to look at ways of improving farm safety as legislators, stakeholders and society in general. Exploring the trends related to these farm-place deaths, we also need to consider why both the very old and very young make up a significant proportion of deaths. Within the farming sector, the improvement in standards over recent years in the areas of risk assessment, safety statements, hazard identification and other interventions should be acknowledged.All these improvements have certainly contributed to a safer workplace environment. Undoubtedly, lives have been saved and accidents prevented as a result. There remains, however, an onus on all interested parties and contributors to that agri-sector to continue this work, to keep developing, to improve standards, to devise new processes and to have modern safety methods to complete farming-related activities in a safer and less hazardous working environment.

Recognising the extremely high number of fatalities that occur every year, we must also be very aware of the non-fatal accidents that also occur. Again, the figure is disproportionately high when farming is compared with other sectors, with 51 accidents per 1,000 workers in 2015. This figure was compiled by the Health and Safety Authority and provides further evidence that farming is an extremely choice of work and considerably dangerous for those who choose farming.

Looking at the vast improvements that have been made to reduce road deaths, reducing drink driving levels, seatbelt wearing, etc., we have proven, as a country, that we can make positive change when enough emphasis is placed on a problem. Culturally, it takes time and I guess, as Irish people, we are sometimes resistant to change. As I mentioned in respect of road safety, if enough emphasis is directed at a problem, then positive change can happen.

Apart from resources, the biggest factor needed to contribute positively to improve farm safety is education. While researching information on farm safety in preparation for this week's event, I was struck by the technological resources that are aimed at younger members of farming families. Given that we live in a technological age, its importance in modern day education and the obsession of the younger generation with technology, I welcome and encourage the development and utilisation of all of these resources towards improving farm safety standards. I believe that this type of resources should be rolled out and form part of the curriculum for primary, second and third level education, specifically in rural areas, and they should be part of courses that are associated with agriculture. I am confident that multi-media attractions developed by many stakeholders, including Teagasc, the IFA and others, open up new avenues for younger people towards educating themselves about farm safety.

I note the statement made by the ICSA President, Mr. Patrick Kent. He has said that all farmers should be able to claim back VAT on essential farm safety equipment and clothing, such as PTO shafts, protective clothing, gloves for spraying and protective equipment for optimising safety when using chainsaws. He pointed out that we do not want to see farmers skimping on these or other safety essentials but we must be realistic that they are expensive for farmers who are under pressure due to low commodity prices. The ICSA has called on the Minister and the Government to consider granting a VAT refund for flat-rate farmers in this regard. I believe the Minister should explore the proposal with his colleague, the Minister for Finance.

It would be remiss of me to neglect to mention the potential effects that Brexit will have on farm safety. Farm incomes will suffer as a result of Brexit, of that there is no doubt. Weakening sterling, fewer sales in an anticipated weakening market along with, perhaps, a potential weakening euro will undoubtedly require more hours, harder work and an extended week for farmers. It is at these times of stress and when bodies are tired that accidents are most likely to occur. I take this opportunity to request the Minister to outline the Government's strategy for assisting the farming community and protecting their interests that are clearly threatened by the Brexit vote. In particular, I ask the Minister and the Taoiseach to immediately rebuff the suggestion made by the German Vice-Chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, that CAP should be cut substantially. I believe we need to vigorously defend Irish interests in this regard.

I wish to highlight the current concerns of the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers' Association. The group seeks equality across the board in terms of the sheep scheme and measures made available to farmers. The association has highlighted that their members have very poor financial returns due to higher implementation costs and as such has requested a 50% top-up for hill farmers to makes these measures viable. It further requested that there is flexibility in reference to the years being used for the sheep scheme for farmers who have to adjust sheep numbers as a result of complying with a commonage management plan and also for young farmers who have not yet reached their optimum stocking rates.

I wish to draw attention to the main issues that affect Irish farming today. Incomes continue to be volatile and little has been done to raise incomes for average sized farm families. Their incomes have haemorrhaged over the past four years and have dropped by 20%. Small farming families and, indeed, local rural economies around Ireland need decent sustainable incomes to grow local communities. EU subsidies also need to be maintained and they are recognised as providing badly needed profit for most families. Without subsidies these families would have loss-making businesses.

I will wrap up by saying that the Minister is aware of the issues that concern various representative organisations. They are connected and I ask him to address them. In particular, I ask him to outline his strategy. The Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation has outlined a strategy in response to Brexit and I ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to do the same in terms of how his Department proposes to respond. Finally, we need an all-Ireland forum of farming organisations to come together to address these issues on an all-Ireland basis.