Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Fianna Fail)

I thank my Fine Gael colleagues for bringing forward this motion. I welcome the debate and Fianna Fáil will not oppose the motion.

Our farmers are world-class food producers. They are the social, economic and cultural pillars of our rural communities and Irish society. From 2020 to 2024, with the leadership of the then Minister, Deputy Charlie McConalogue, Fianna Fáil worked hard to deliver investment on farms and in industry and provide financial support for farmers. This work included a new €1.5 billion agri-environmental scheme, ACRES, a new agrifood regulator, supports of €225 per suckler cow and €25 per ewe and a projected geographic indicator, PGI, for grass-fed beef.

When farmers faced difficulties in recent years, the Government ensured direct and timely supports were introduced, such as the €32.3 million in support earlier this year for tillage farmers. Previous supports included fodder transport and schemes to support farmers during adverse weather events. From mid-September to the end of 2025, payments totalling over €1.7 billion will issue to farm families and, by extension, rural communities throughout the country. Moving forward, protecting family incomes will remain an absolute priority for my party, Fianna Fáil. We want Irish agriculture to be a world leader in terms of innovation, sustainability and value and we want Irish farmers and their families to thrive.

On derogation, last week I had a Commencement matter on this on the very day the Minister, Deputy Heydon, went to Brussels to discuss it. I jokingly took credit on the day and said when he heard I was coming in there he ran to Brussels. Whether that is true or not, I am taking the credit. It is important that the rate stays the same. A change would be detrimental to individual farmers and the whole farming sector. It would be very hard to see young talented boys and girls coming home to farm when the first thing they will have to do is reduce the size of their herd or acquire more land. We cannot compare Ireland to other European countries. We have a unique outside system and it is unfair to compare us to any other European country. It is also unfair that farmers are getting the blame for the condition of our waterways when other bodies are doing more harm. They should be asked to get their houses in order before farmers are asked to take huge steps. Our waterways are improving, but this needs time. Denmark is held up as a great example of anything agricultural. Not a week goes by that we do not hear Denmark this and Denmark that with regard to agriculture, but it must be noted that it is now trying to get back to the derogation system.

I want to mention tillage farmers. It is very hard to believe that they are getting the same income they did 40 years ago. It is unbelievable. If the derogation is reduced, it will put more pressure on tillage farmers because they will have to compete with large dairy farmers when acquiring land.

I was little disappointed with the motion in that there is no mention of encouraging women into farming. Perhaps in future if a similar motion is tabled we could include something to encourage women to go into farming. Thank God the day when a farmer would only pass on his farm to a son is well and truly gone, but an extra incentive might bring some fine women back to farming.