This is a very important issue. Women were crying in my clinic yesterday because they did not know if they would receive payments for Christmas. Will the position be like last year, when payments were not made until March or April? A few weeks ago the Minister announced that he would pay the headage and premium payments early. People were waiting for the cheques, but there was no sign of those cheques and no word from the Department. Those people contacted their public representatives or the area aid unit of the Department of Agriculture and Food where an answering machine message says: "We will be contacting you."
On 26 May 1998 the Minister announced a reorganisation of the area aid unit. It was to be divided into five sections, with Donegal, Mayo and Sligo forming one section. We were told that there would be 11 telephone lines into that office, but today if one calls it there is an answering machine. Where have all the staff gone? Where has the Minister gone? He is missing, as he has been for the past few weeks. Farmers are not being told that there is a problem with their area aid. I ask the Minister of State to fly to Brussels with the Minister and the other Minister of State and get a derogation in order that all area aid funding can be paid. If there is a problem, that can be dealt with next year when the Department of Agriculture and Food gets its act together. I do not blame the Department's staff. I am critical of them at times, but I cannot criticise them now. They are doing their best and can do no more. There is not enough staff and it is the Minister's responsibility to get the staff into the section to deal with this matter.
This has been the worst year for agriculture in 30 years. Since the present Government took office 18 months ago agriculture has gone down the drain, particularly the beef, sheep and pig sectors. A fortnight ago it was announced that headage and premium payments were to be made, and now problems have occurred with area aid for people who never had such problems before. People who were paid last year and the year before cannot now get a telephone line into the Department; they get an answering machine. Is that progress in 1998? No, it is a step backwards. Farmers and their wives come to see me and they are upset by pressure from the banks, which give them an umbrella on a fine day and take it back on the wet day. I am glad there is some pressure on the banks now and the boot is on the other foot, as farmers and their families are under tremendous pressure.
There was an announcement last week that beef prices would be up this week, but what has happened? They have gone down. I am told the Minister was on television this evening but nothing is happening on the ground even though prices are disastrous. The Minister must put extra staff in the area aid unit and, if necessary, pay them overtime so that farmers will know what is happening and will get payments. Even my Dublin colleagues, some of whom may be anti-farmer, would say that fair is fair and that the farmers have a problem. They would not mind if farmers are paid. The Minister of State has lost control, he reminds me of Glenn Hoddle. He is under pressure, as is the Minister and the other Minister of State. I know what I would like to do, but I am not the Taoiseach and do not wish to be disrespectful. I will give the Minister of State one more chance, though he does not deserve it. The Department of Agriculture and Food has to get its act together and pay these hard pressed farmers. Enough is enough. The farmers are not looking forward to Christmas.
It is disgraceful that a parliamentary question is not answered for a Member, no matter what that question is. I ask the Chair, as our representative, to ensure that an answer such as the one I was given — that the question could not be answered because of the problems in Agriculture House — is not given again. It is my right as a Member to have my questions answered. I want no more such replies. If I inquire about a problem I want responses.
