Gerard Murphy
Question:11 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans to carry out a review of the early retirement scheme for farmers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24438/04]
View answerWednesday, 13 October 2004
Questions (10)
Oral answers (6 contributions)
As part of the expenditure review process established in 1997 under the strategic management initiative, my Department is completing an expenditure review of the early retirement scheme. The purpose of the expenditure review is to analyse systematically whether the scheme is meeting its objectives so as to inform future decisions regarding priorities on expenditure programmes. The review will be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas in due course and I will study its findings carefully.
I am sure the Minister of State is well aware of the difficulties for those who availed of the farm retirement scheme and feel they have lost out. While I realise there is only so much cake on the plate, I ask the Minister of State to meet this group to see whether anything can be done for them. With the advent of the single farm payment, many have lost out and, in many respects, are penalised for farm practice. While the freedom to farm is fine, there are many groups which have been disenfranchised and will lose out and there will be increasing discontent. I ask the Minister of State to be aware of the discontent, to keep in touch with the groups to see how the injustices, through nobody's fault, can be addressed. During the past few weeks I have encountered a few farmers, whom one would have thought were well off and doing well, who are in genuine difficulty. We always speak about a section of the agricultural community which portrays the poor mouth.
I am well aware of the group to which the Deputy refers. The group originated in Wexford and I have met it on a number of occasions. It speaks about the increased rate of payment, index linking and the retirement pension. I accept there are anomalies and we will take those on board with a view to seeing what can be done. I assure the Deputy we will give the matter favourable consideration.
I encourage the Minister to State to view this question sympathetically because, in fairness, many retired farmers were unaware of the negative consequences that would follow on down the line for them, such as non-indexation. I appreciate it is outside the control of this country specifically as it is an EU matter. I ask the Minister of State to look sympathetically at those issues and to discuss them with the retirement group to hear its point of view and appreciate the difficulties being encountered.
The Minister of State will realise that while the group may have originated in Wexford it is countrywide at this stage and we have all received representations. Like other Deputies, I urge the Minister of State not only to meet the group but to recognise that among its number are people who are selfless in terms of wishing to allow young people make a career from farming. Given the demographic profile of farmers, who are generally older than other professions, it should be recognised they are looking at the common good and hope to help farming in general. In that context they should be met and their interests viewed sympathetically.
I assure Deputies that we will review the situation sympathetically. There are some road-blocks at EU level and in the Department of Social and Family Affairs which we need to get over. However, given that the Minister for Agriculture and Food has come from that Department, I am sure she still has some contacts there and we can do so.