Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to be associated with the remarks concerning members of our Defence Forces and their service to the UN. I agree with Senator Craughwell that the issue of pay is something that must be addressed. Members of the Defence Forces give great service, not only to this country but also the UN.

I ask that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, come to this Chamber to discuss support measures for farming ahead of the budget. It is important that we get an opportunity to advocate for expenditure measures to support farming enterprises and taxation measures to support growth and restructuring in the sector. I also welcome the news that legislation regarding landowners availing of the fair deal scheme will come before the Oireachtas this term. I have met members of my local Irish Farmers Association, IFA, in Longford. Their priorities include the Common Agricultural Programme, CAP, transition funding, and whether full funding will be maintained for existing farming schemes in the CAP-phase contribution to the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, the areas of natural constraint scheme, the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme and other schemes. There was also a query regarding the maximum level of national co-funding of 57% in the CAP rural development programme after 2020. Will there be an exemption for agridiesel and agrifuels from carbon taxes, as there is no viable alternative to using those fuels in the farming industry? Will there be a reduction in the rate of stamp duty on land to bring it in line with the residential rates of 1% and 2%? Will there be an increase in the age limit to 40 years for the young farmers' stamp duty relief programme? Will there also be full compensation for any further losses during the transition period arising from the impact of Brexit? I ask the Deputy Leader to remind the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, of a motion he proposed in 2018 calling on the Government to work towards introducing a €200 payment for suckler cows.More than 70,000 farming families depend on this. The future of people staying in farming in my area and throughout the country depends on this motion being enacted and delivered upon. For every €1 invested in the suckler cow beef sector, there is a return of €4 to the local economy, and in the current climate our local economies depend on it. I ask the Leader to accommodate this debate shortly, prior to the budget.