Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The gentleman is married with four children and he was producing more than 1 million chickens a year on a family farm as well as cattle and sheep. The issue is that because he declined to take part in certain VAT avoidance arrangements, he is no longer trading, according to the Irish Independent. He is no longer in a position to earn a livelihood from what is a very well-kept and high quality family farm.

The issue I have had all along is there is a need for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to be extremely vigilant about whether there is any unfolding scandal here of an abuse of power in the poultry industry. If a farmer is not able to sell his milk to one co-op, he can go to another one, but what happens when a farmer finds he is not in a position to sell his poultry because he has done due diligence and checked whether he can act in a particular way according to the requirements of Revenue and so on? If that farmer found he was not in a position to take part in certain arrangements and was blackballed as a result, either or indirectly, is it a matter that would be of concern to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine? It certainly should be and one does not have to be, as I am, from a small farming background to be concerned that small farmers are entitled to make a livelihood. I would not fault any farmer for entering into an arrangement to make a livelihood but a small farmer, or even not such a small farmer, who wants to, as it were, follow his conscience or take the route of good citizenship should never be victimised. There is a real danger in our world today internationally that the big corporations have their way with the small guy. That should not happen in Ireland, in Cavan or anywhere else. I want the Minister and his Department to take an active interests in this case because it seems to me there is not a whole lot of competition among processors in the poultry sector and that creates particular dangers.

In the news report, the farmer said he had lost out on an additional €25,000 a year because he had not participated in certain arrangements. A processor, such as Carton Brothers Manor Farm, is entitled to source produce from whomever it likes, but if there is a question of a supplier getting penalised because he took the route of good citizenship, then an important public issue arises. That is the issue I want the Minister to address. We cannot stand back and say it is a private arrangement between a processor and a supplier. It is an issue if somebody took the route of good citizenship and finds themselves cut out. This farmer is no longer in business. Sheds are lying idle which is a change from a situation where a guy was producing 1 million chickens a year.

It is very much in the Minister's interest to find out what went on regardless of whatever issues arise on the VAT issue in future and whatever the tax arrangements were. The State has an interest in ensuring the people who take the route of good citizenship are protected, whether that means informal or formal activity by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. There is an issue here. It is an issue I will not let lie. I will return to it again and again until I am satisfied the State is doing everything necessary to investigate whether people have acted properly. Whether it is the big processor, Carton Brothers Manor Farm, Mr. Mohan or others, it is important that the State ensures the small guy does not get victimised, particularly if he is acting according to his own lights and doing what he believes to be the right thing having exercised the necessary due diligence.

I do not know what response the Minister will give today but there are options. This issue can trundle on and become more of a controversy while an individual seeks justice. It is perfectly within the gift of the Department to appoint a mediator to try to bring the sides together to try to get to some kind of understanding and to ensure in any case that justice is done in the final analysis.