Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Will the Acting Leader organise a debate on the Irish horticultural sector? It is a critical sector. I discussed it briefly with the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Martin Heydon, through a Commencement matter this morning. Some of our lowest-paid workers are in the fruit picking business and in the meat sector. I am not talking about the meat sector here, but agriculture and horticulture. This is an area in which there are a lot seasonal workers, yet we have people here who are waiting for their status to be processed. We have asylum seekers. We have people willing and wanting to work. We should have a relaxed regime for those who are able and willing and have been processed to some extent that they can work. There are enormous challenges for the workforce in relation to harvesting, packing and picking - all of the bits related particularly to the fruit sector.

The other aspect and challenge for horticulture is, of course, the residential zoned land, RZL, tax. I particularly reference north County Dublin. I have received a number of emails regarding the challenges around horticultural farmers who are already under pressure in growing crops such as salad crops, cabbage and potatoes, and now these lands have been identified for a potential tax. We are going to run people off the land. There is this constant disconnect between the national policymakers and agriculture, rural Ireland, horticulture and forestry. I would like a focused debate on the horticultural food sector, including the mushroom sector, which is part of that and the challenges around peat.