asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the number of times he has consulted with farming organisations in north-east Donegal since he became Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries; and if, in view of the importance of the agricultural industry in Donegal and taking into account the many problems confronting the agricultural community, he will indicate the outcome of his discussions, if any.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Donegal Farming Organisations.
15.
I have been in constant touch with farmers in north-east Donegal and am fully acquainted with their opinions and their problems. Among the resulting benefits to farmers have been the introduction of a support price for oats, improved marketing and higher price for potatoes and priority in disease eradication with marked improvement in livestock prices. Certain parishes in the area have been designated as special areas for agricultural development purposes. In addition, many measures introduced in western areas generally are of special importance in north-east Donegal. Among these I might mention the mountain lamb scheme, derating, the small farm (incentive bonus) scheme and the concessions to smallholders under the social welfare code. Increased attention has been given to the provision of supplementary non-farm employment opportunities and new emphasis has been focussed on the problems of this and similar areas.
Can the Minister say if he has actually had any meetings with farming organisations as distinct from individual farmers whom he might meet in the course of his normal work as a Deputy?
Since the Deputy is only relating Deputy Harte's anxiety in regard to this matter perhaps it would be unfair to ask him what organisations Deputy Harte had in mind; whether any had requested meetings with me and if they had been refused. I had hoped that Deputy Harte might be here so that he could let us have the answers to these questions.
I have not been in communication with Deputy Harte. The Minister has been asked to state whether he has met farming organisations but he has replied by putting a question to Deputy Harte.
That is correct. I am asking if there is any organisation who have sought a meeting with me but who have not been granted that meeting.
What about the pigeon club?
(Cavan): For my own information may I ask whether, in fact, the Minister has met any farming organisations in Donegal during the period covered by the question, whether he was asked to meet them and whether he met them?
The Deputy is not on time and material here but, nevertheless, his question is more succinct than those I have been getting. Yes, I have been meeting people who were representative of the farming interests in my county. I have met the mountain sheep people for whom we have been doing a good job as I have just been trying to point out to the House. I have also been meeting a member of the NAC whose invaluable advice has been available to me and whose organisation which, when it was operating and up to the time it was strangled, were doing very good work for Donegal and other counties. I have also been meeting representatives of the committees of agriculture which I regard as being very representative of the farming community of any county. I have met these frequently not only at local level but at national level also.
I have also met a number of people who have served on many of our useful boards in Donegal north-east during the years, namely, the ACC representative, the potato export board representative, a member of An Comhairle Olla, a member of the Grain Board and some others who have had an opportunity of making known, where they can count, the views and requirements of the farmers in Donegal. These meetings, together with my efforts and the efforts of my Fianna Fáil colleagues in Donegal, have had the effect of improving very considerably the outlook and lot of the farming community over what they enjoyed in the past, particularly under Governments headed by the people now sitting on the benches opposite.
(Cavan): Arising out of the Minister's reply——
The Deputy must not make a speech.
We cannot discuss County Donegal all day.
(Cavan):——am I correct in thinking that while the Minister appears to have met certain individual members of farmers' organisations in Donegal, he has not met these organisations officially or official representatives of them in recent times?
Of whom?
(Cavan): Of the NFA.
The Minister does not meet those people.
Of course I do. I meet many worthwhile NFA people at my own cumann meetings.
May I ask the Minister if in his efforts to improve the lot of farmers in Donegal and elsewhere, he has taken into consideration the suggestions made by the Minister for Lands in his recent Estimate speech?
Which ones?
The suggestions that he was giving up hope of creating economic holdings and doing away with the Land Commission.
I do not deal with the Land Commission. I am interested in trying to make farmers viable, whether they be on big or small farms. That is my job and that is what I intend to do.
(Cavan): The Minister for Agriculture——
I am calling Question No. 16. Deputies will appreciate that there are 122 Questions on the Order Paper.
(Cavan):——is an independent Republican within the Cabinet who does not agree with either the Minister for Lands or the Taoiseach.
Question No. 16.
It cannot be said of the Deputy that he is either independent or Republican.
(Cavan): Come and see.