Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. I have a few specific questions related to agriculture and particularly the relationship between Revenue and his Department. What is the position on approval by the European Commission of a levy on a lower rate of stamp duty for the purposes of consolidation? Farmers are keen to know when it will happen. Will it be applied retrospectively from January?

Will the Minister of State consider making changes to the age limits for farm transfers to young trained farmers to enable those who want to take up farming to purchase from non-relatives at the lower stamp duty rate in order that they will not have to be aged under 35 years. I am particularly mindful of returning emigrants who wish to purchase land for a farming career.

Some of this year's budgetary measures related to agriculture contain sunset clauses which will end on 31 December. I refer, in particular, to stock relief for young trained farmers. Is work being done to extend it beyond this year?

Low income farmers faces pressures in complying with Revenue requirements as they have to engage accountants and so on. That is expensive when, more often that not, they record little or no profit. I acknowledge that newspapers are reporting today that dairy farmers are making increased profits, but that is not the case for many farmers in the west, particularly in County Mayo, from where I come. Simplicity is one of the attributes of an effective and good tax system. Can the reporting procedures be made simpler for farmers, particularly those on low incomes?

I am concerned about the impact of vulture funds on the farming community, particularly now that more loans will be sold off. My experience in talking to farmers who find themselves in this position is that they have performing loans but that they need them to be restructured to suit their business or income. Will the Minister of State do everything he can to force the vulture funds to engage with farmers to work out a restructuring plan with them because the vulture fund-farmer relationship is in danger of having detrimental short, medium and long-term effects on the fabric of communities in rural Ireland?