Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. He can share the frustration. It is about trust. There is a very fragile relationship between the Department, the Government and agriculture. Agriculture has become very divided. Here we have a really positive scheme and yet trust is now broken. The IFA contacted us last Friday expressing concern. Where is the lead-in time for this? Why was this not flagged four or five weeks ago? Why were the measures not put in place? I accept it is not the responsibility of the Minister of State; it is not even his Department. However, he, more than anyone, is committed to seeing this work. We now have a really positive scheme and we are falling down at the fence when it comes to the delivery end. It is an honour. People went into and incurred expenses and we need to honour our commitments to farmers who signed up to this scheme. The bottom line is 46,000 people are involved. They are not all involved in the lack of payment but it is very disappointing. At the end of the day, people have to put food on their table. They have to pay their bills. They have to honour their debts. I believe the Government needs to honour its concern. I ask one thing. Will the Minister of State take this away from here to the Minister? Will the Minister update the joint committee on agriculture when we meet again this week? Will he provide an update on how this is evolving and how we are going to get a solution?