Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Feb 1991

Vol. 405 No. 4

Written Answers. - Minister's Statement on Farmers.

Michael Moynihan

Question:

83 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will expand on his statement of 13 February 1991 when he stated that the small inefficient farmers cannot be maintained on the land, just because they existed; and if he will outline the criteria his Department will be using to determine a small inefficient farmer.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. O'Kennedy)

I did not at any time make a statement of the kind suggested. The statement in question was made by Mr. Jeremy Hanley, MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, who has responsibility for agriculture in Northern Ireland, in the course of a press conference which followed his visit to Dublin on 12 February.

In commenting on the statement I said, "You cannot be committed to inefficiency no matter what the business or the size of the farm". Both statements were made in the context of our joint recognition of the need for a more market responsive agriculture and food industry, of the necessity to improve farm structures in both parts of the island, and of the possibilities for environmentally efficient practices on farms of all sizes. I emphasised very strongly in the discussions the Government's commitment to maintaining the maximum possible number of farmers on the land and the need to press ahead with rural development policies to encourage sustainable growth in our rural economies.