I move:
That Seanad Éireann condemns the Government for its failure to honour its pre-election promises to provide funding for the following:—
(a) A new Control of Farmyard Pollution Scheme;
(b) A Dairy Hygiene Scheme;
(c) Introduction of a new Farm Installation Grant Scheme for Young Farmers;
(d) To reopen the live cattle trade to Egypt and Libya.
Furthermore, Seanad Éireann condemns the Government for its failure:—
(a) to introduce an efficient farmer-friendly Animal Traceability Scheme;
(b) to introduce a comprehensive Quality Assurance Scheme at farm level which is not excessively costly to farmers;
(c) to reorganise the Area Aid Unit;
(d) to guarantee farmers that the results of the 30 Day Blood Tests be made available inside a 10 day period; and
(e) to use its influence to provide for a live cattle shipping service to the Continent.
I am glad the Minister is here given that a similar debate is taking place in the other House. I hope the debate will be constructive and of interest to the agricultural community. My reasons for tabling the motion are many and varied but, above all, on the anniversary of the formation of the Government, it is important to look at the promises it made and how many were brought to fruition.
Over the past number of weeks I examined those promises and listed the different aspects of the Government's proposals which were not implemented. During the general election campaign the agricultural community swayed in which way it cast its vote on election day. The proposals contained in the Fianna Fáil manifesto and, indeed, the Programme for Government held out new hope for many farmers. They fell for, and believed, some of the proposals would be implemented and because of that hope many voted in favour of the current Administration. I was shocked when I looked at the Programme for Government and compared it to what had been done. That is why I tabled this motion. The Government's most disastrous and dismal failure was not to reopen the live cattle trade to Egypt and Libya.
During a previous debate on agriculture, we, on this side of the House, welcomed the introduction of the 30 day blood test, but the disastrous way in which that scheme has been operated has caused major hardship over the past few months. During one week, people were in contact with politicians daily to get back results of their 30 day blood tests.
The Government promised to restore the control of farmyard pollution scheme which in its words is important "to ensure the sustainability of agriculture". It is disgraceful that 12 months after the formation of this Government, and despite all the commitments given during the election, this scheme has not been reintroduced. Pollution of the environment is a serious problem in rural Ireland. Every summer we read reports in newspapers about many streams and rivers which have been polluted. It is virtually impossible for any medium or small farmer to put in place control measures which would be environmentally friendly without Government aid. It is a huge cost to many farmers, something which they cannot afford given the current prices in the industry. The success and drawing down of the previous scheme signalled its importance. The number of people who want to get involved in this scheme and REPS is growing daily. Both schemes go hand in hand and REPS is having a major effect on our farms. It is important the Minister makes an effort and tries to shake up the Cabinet to get it to respond by putting money into the reintroduction of the scheme.
The same could apply to the dairy hygiene scheme. Throughout the country, particularly in the dairying regions in the south, more people are leaving the industry simply because the new guidelines and regulations being imposed by the Department through those involved in the processing industry are driving them out of existence. This is having a devastating effect on rural Ireland because small dairy farmers are the backbone of the economy and many rural parishes, villages and small towns. It is a disgrace that a sector of the agricultural community like the small dairy farmers has been let down. We have neglected them, particularly by our failure to grant aid dairies to bring them up to EU standard. Will the Minister do something for those people who have no other income and who see no other hope in agriculture except on the family farm to which we are so committed and of which we are so proud?
The failure of the Government to reintroduce installation aid for young farmers is the biggest disappointment of the Programme for Government. The programme states:
Fianna Fáil is committed to the continuation of this scheme which is very important not only to the young farmers but to the general profile of agriculture. We will seek as a matter of urgency to review the extension clause in the present scheme.
It is difficult to make a more unequivocal commitment, yet it has brazenly been set aside by the Government. The Minister is an honourable politician. I cannot believe he or his party are walking away from such a clear promise to young farmers. I call on him to reverse his decision immediately and to honour the clear undertaking given by his party during the general election.
The subsidy of £5,600 to be paid to trained young farmers is an effective and cheap way for the Government to bring people into agriculture. It compares favourably with the approximately £12,000 it costs to create a job in industry. This is an economic and good long-term scheme because it increases the age profile of young people working on the land. We need more young people working on farms.
The failure to reopen the live cattle trade to Egypt is the Government's most damning inaction. The Minister recently visited Cairo. What does Egypt propose? The various farming organisations are aware of the huge commitment which the Minister gave as Opposition spokesman on Agriculture, Food and Forestry prior to the last general election. We were told of it everywhere we canvassed during the election campaign. When we canvassed voters in Tipperary town we were told that Joe Walsh and Bertie Ahern would get the cattle exported. Not a beast has moved. Never has the Government made such a poor attempt to honour one of its commitments.