Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I fully respect Senator Boyhan's right to stand up and say what he said. However, I am quite surprised and astounded by it. I could not let this debate continue without putting the record straight. Like most of my rural Fianna Fáil colleagues, I have at least six engagements per year with the IFA. I assure the House that at not stage did the IFA representatives express to me any concern about this. If they did, I would have addressed the matter. I find it strange that the IFA would approach one Senator and would not lobby the rest of us, particularly those of us from rural Ireland.

Senator Boyhan is passionate about agriculture and horticulture, as I am. I am a rural Senator and Oireachtas person. However, I wish to make it clear that I, like many of my colleagues from every side of the House, engage with the IFA at least six times a year and this matter has not been brought to my attention. It may be an issue in some parts of the country and I am not denying that. However, it has not been brought to my attention. Most members of the agricultural community would be rather taken aback by the Senator's comment that we would not deal with issues of concern to the IFA. If the IFA has a major issue with this, I would be delighted to hear from it tonight. I want to hear from the IFA tonight. I did not get the communication that Senator Boyhan got. That is fair enough. The IFA does not have to send me all the documentation.

The IFA has a considerable input to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, under the chairmanship of Deputy Jackie Cahill. The Chairman and the members of the committee give the IFA a lot of time to debate and bring issues forward. I have engaged in those debate. I was elected on the agricultural panel. I was not appointed to that Oireachtas committee but the Chairman allows me to engage once the members, of which Senator Boyhan is one, have made their contributions. It is not that I am in conflict with the Senator but I want to put the record straight from our side of the House. I am sure other people will have things to say. We constantly engage with the IFA. I would like to think I know most of the problems and difficulties that the IFA faces. This matter was not brought to my attention by the IFA. If it had been, I would have spoken about it today.