Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 8 Feb 2006

Vol. 614 No. 2

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed).

The following motion was moved by Deputy Naughten on Tuesday, 7 February 2006:

That Dáil Éireann condemns the Minister for Agriculture and Food for her abject failure and gross negligence in failing to defend the interests of Irish farmers, by not:

—ensuring that the nitrates directive is implemented in a workable and practical manner;

—securing a future for Irish beet growers; and

—ending the abuse of Irish food labelling law to prevent inferior imported foods being passed off as Irish;

calls on the Government to:

—acknowledge the crisis within the farming sector;

—immediately suspend the implementation of the full nitrates directive, to allow for revised scientific information to be presented by Teagasc and a comprehensive public information campaign to inform farmers about their responsibilities under the nitrates action plan prior to its implementation;

—provide clarity on the implementation of the restructuring levy and distribution of the compensation package for the sugar industry;

—establish a forum to bring together beet growers, Greencore, workers and all beet industry interests to reach an early agreement on the future of the sugar sector;

—immediately introduce country of origin food labelling within the catering and processing sectors; and

—develop a survival action plan for the future of farming, which will deal with the key farming sectors of Irish farming and will be fully resourced and implemented on the ground.

Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:

"recognising the need to implement EU policies designed to ensure the development of agriculture and the agrifood sector in a sustainable and more market oriented manner, supports the Minister for Agriculture and Food in:

—seeking the early agreement of the European Commission on her proposals for major improvements to the farm waste management scheme specifically intended to assist farmers in meeting the requirements of the nitrates directive;

—working with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to explore with the European Commission the possibility of some changes to the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters) Regulations 2005 in relation to phosphorus limits on the basis of a review at present under way in Teagasc of the science underpinning these limits as well as working with him in pursuing a derogation for certain farmers;

—having secured modifications of the sugar reform proposals to take account of Irish interests which, when adopted by the Council, will be implemented in consultation with the stakeholders; and

—implementing the recommendations of the food labelling group and, in the absence of EU legislation, advancing national legislation to regulate the labelling of meat in restaurants and the catering trade and securing voluntary agreement for the implementation of origin labelling in advance of the mandatory requirement;

while at the same time ensuring the successful implementation of the most fundamental change in EU support arrangements for agriculture since the inception of the CAP, forcefully representing Irish agricultural interests in the ongoing WTO negotiations and preparing a national action plan to drive the future development of the agrifood sector in a more competitive and liberalised market."

—(Minister for Agriculture and Food).

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food (Mr. Browne)

I wish to share time with Deputies Callanan, Finneran, Moloney, Michael Moynihan, Wilkinson and Hoctor. The past year has been busy and fruitful for forestry. At the start of the year, we faced the prospect of a new rural development regulation which would have seriously damaged Ireland's afforestation programme. Negotiations were long and difficult and Ireland was frequently isolated in its position on forestry. Ultimately however, we achieved significant improvements to the text and while the final package is not everything we would want, it is a basis upon which to build. In addition to the more traditional support measures, there will be opportunities to benefit from a wide range of new measures included in this regulation for the first time, including measures aimed at innovation and technological improvement, amenity investment and agri-forestry. I look forward to the drafting of a new programme in the next few months, in consultation with the sector, which will guide the development of forestry to 2013.

This Government is committed to a long-term forestry strategy. It knows this requires investment and has provided the funds. Last year's allocation for forestry was the biggest financial package ever put together for the sector and this year it has been increased again. The total voted allocation for forestry in 2006 is €125 million, which is an 18% increase on the voted allocation last year. Moreover, I will assign a further €12 million to this area from my Department's capital carry-over. These funds will support the afforestation and premium schemes in addition to capital development work such as roads, reconstitution, native woodland development, amenity schemes and woodland improvement, as well as research and development.

Following the CAP reforms, I believe forestry represents a real alternative land use in Ireland, which will provide a sustainable source of income for rural communities and raw material for local industrial use, processing and energy. Research by the European Forest Institute has emphasised Ireland's competitive advantage in this regard, having one of the highest growth rates for a range of tree species in Europe. This enables faster returns on investment, in terms of both timber and carbon sequestration, than in most competing economies in Europe, and indeed worldwide.

Renewable energy has become a very relevant topic. There is great potential in Ireland for wood biomass to displace imported fossil fuels as a source of energy. I have made a start in the promotion of wood biomass by introducing a wood heating system to the Department's buildings at Johnstown Castle. This conversion is now underway.

My Department is funding a number of pilot projects in this area, including the development of a thinning protocol with the Forestry Development Association and an integrated forest-to-energy project in County Clare, which will become a model for the entire country. Teagasc will also organise a number of practical thinning field days during the coming year. However, one of the main obstacles to be overcome in terms of wood energy is the high cost of installing wood-fired boilers at a scale where they can strongly tilt market demand. Another challenge is to increase and maintain the supply of raw material, particularly wood chip.

If the wood energy market is to develop to its full potential, substantial investment will be required and with this in mind, a number of new initiatives have been announced. A new scheme to grant aid the installation of wood-fired boilers, especially by heavy heat users, has been launched and will operate under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. This new scheme was developed by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, and me. It will create a network of real markets for wood chip countrywide. I also plan to seek EU approval to introduce a special scheme to support the major investment required for the purchase of biomass harvesters and chippers. A further scheme to grant aid the planting of willow and miscanthus grass as a short-rotation fuel source is also being drafted. The stimulation of new markets and creation of new harvesting capacity is good news for all involved in the sector. Recognising the important role which the sector itself can play in this area, I recently announced a second call for proposals from interested parties, which will look in particular for innovative proposals for the development and promotion of sustainable forestry.

Last night, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, gave a comprehensive update on developments regarding reform of the sugar regime. She explained why reform was inevitable and could not be deferred any longer, due to pressures both within the EU and internationally.

Having being personally involved at all stages of these negotiations, I can testify to the enormous difficulties we faced in achieving an acceptable outcome for Irish interests. Throughout this negotiating process, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, engaged with the stakeholders and had their backing for the stance we took in Brussels. Consequently, I support the amended motion, as ably proposed by the Minister last night.

Mr. Callanan

I am delighted the Opposition tabled this motion on agriculture, because it gives Members on the Government side an opportunity to let farmers know how good is their Minister for Agriculture and Food. Farmers know the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, has represented and will represent them both in Europe and at home, in the best possible manner.

The past year has been an eventful time in agriculture. The introduction of the single payment in 2005 was a major milestone in the development of Irish agriculture. It was a massive undertaking by the Minister for Agriculture and Food and her Department and I congratulate her for a job well done. It also involved a considerable learning curve for Irish farmers. Much preparatory work was required in establishing a database of farmers' entitlements based on their farming activities in the reference years. It was necessary to put systems in place to invite and process applications for force majeure, new entrants, private contract clauses, consolidation of entitlements and the national reserve.

An important part of the process was the establishment of an independent appeals system to ensure farmers seeking a review of their circumstances could have their cases dealt with fairly and efficiently. I wish to provide Members with some sense of the many tasks which were undertaken to deliver the new scheme on target. Briefing sessions were held throughout the country on various elements of the scheme and information booklets were sent to all farm households. Farmers were informed of their individual entitlements and were supplied with pre-printed area aid details to assist them in making their 2005 single payment applications. In all, more than 140,000 applications were submitted in April and May 2005, ensuring a demanding processing effort was required by the Department of Agriculture and Food in the following months.

A massive effort went into ensuring, in the first instance, the delivery of the disadvantaged areas scheme, starting in September, when 85,500 farmers were paid almost €196 million. The current position is that some €233 million has been paid to more than 100,000 farmers. Payments under the single payment scheme commenced on 1 December. While many people thought that would not happen, it was the earliest date allowed under EU regulations.

Mr. Naughten

When will it finish?

Mr. Callanan

Some 110,000 farmers were paid €970 million on that date. By the end of 2005, more than 118,000 farmers had received €1.058 billion under the single payment scheme.

Currently, total payments amount to €1,114 million, with 95% of farmers paid. It is of course necessary to pay all farmers as their files are cleared and a number of payment runs are made each week to ensure this. In the main, those farmers who have not yet received payment are difficult cases. In some situations, there are complicated issues relating to inheritances and in many others, applications for transfer of entitlements under the single payment scheme were only submitted to the Department in recent weeks, or the transfer documents have yet to be submitted.

The achievement in terms of payment delivery in the first year of a major scheme shift has been widely recognised. Ireland's performance in successfully gearing up for change and in making the vast bulk of payments at the earliest opportunity provided for in the EU rules, places us in the leading group of member states. This did not happen by chance. It resulted from careful planning and resourcing, not least an investment in the necessary information technology-based systems. The Minister's aim for 2006 is to build on her achievements to provide an even better single payment service for farmers.

Another important issue for which the Minister can claim credit is securing funding for the CAP supports from 2007 to 2013. This will allow farmers to plan ahead with the assurance that their payments will continue. The supports were threatened by some EU leaders who do not support agriculture. The rural development package was agreed and REPs payments were increased. REPS has been an extremely successful scheme, for both farmers and the environment. We achieved the highest level of entry into REPS, with a record level of 48,000 farmers receiving almost €283 million in payments in 2005. This is the highest figure since REPS began in 1994, and represents an increase of 33% from previous years.

The nitrates directives will cause problems for some farmers with high stocking rates of one cow per acre or more. However, it is important we secure a derogation in the organic nitrogen limit from 170 kg per hectare to 230 kg per hectare for such people.

The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, is extremely positive and forward looking, as can be seen from her support of crops such as biofuels, where I can see a huge market which may replace the sugar beet industry. It makes sense to produce crops that can reduce oil imports. We must also support a way of dealing with pig slurry, which could be a valuable fertiliser for grain farmers.

I was proud to visit Hong Kong for the World Trade Organisations talks, which was my first trip outside the State since I was elected. I was proud of the Minister——

Mr. Naughten

I hope the Minster of State, Deputy Browne, was as proud as the Deputy.

Mr. Callanan

I was delighted to be there to support my Minister. I did not realise how successful she was until I was in Hong Kong.

Mr. Naughten

The Deputy should not return to Galway to say that. He will be lynched. The farmers there will wait from him in the long grass.

Mr. Callanan

I will support my Minister in Galway and I hope she will visit everybody there. The only people who have a problem with her are Opposition Members, but many Fine Gael supporters say she is the best Minister ever.

Mr. Naughten

The Minister is embarrassed.

Mr. Stanton

Why did the IFA walk out of the partnership talks earlier?

Mr. Callanan

The problems ahead in the WTO talks concern the tariff cutbacks. The Minister will fight them because it is not in the EU's interest to have too many of them. I commend Deputy Coughlan, who is one of the best Ministers for Agriculture and Food we have ever had.

Mr. Stanton

Dream on.

Mr. Finneran

I support the amendment. I am amazed at the attack on the Minister and the tabling of a no confidence motion by Fine Gael, which beggars belief.

Mr. Naughten

The Deputy should read the motion.

Mr. Finneran

Deputy Coughlan has been a brave and effective Minister who has stood up for the interests of the Irish farmer. I refer to a number of notable achievements since her appointment. A successful outcome was achieved in the special beef premium overshoot issue with continued buoyancy in beef and live exports, the live sheep trade to the Continent was reopened and the horticulture sector received a major investment boost in 2005. The Minister also secured European Commission approval to retain the REPS payment of €242 per hectare for commonage farmers without affecting their single payment entitlements. In addition, the farm waste management scheme has been boosted massively with grant aid of up to 70% available with an additional top up for young farmers. I welcome the new Finance Bill, which will retain stamp duty exemption for young trained farmers for a further three years, increase the tax exemption limits for income from farm leasing to more than five years and extend certain existing capital acquisitions tax, capital gains tax and stamp duty reliefs to cover EU single payment entitlements in appropriate circumstances.

I highlight the Government's successful defence of the 2003 Common Agricultural Policy reform deal in EU budget negotiations before Christmas. Under the terms of the deal, our CAP receipts are estimated to be more than €10 billion. On the nitrates directive, the priority is to ensure flexibility in the operation of the regime. We should all work to assist farmers in meeting the new requirements through information, advice, grant assistance for additional storage and the provision of new methods of disposing of excess slurry and other measures.

I thank the Minister for her support in reversing the decision to close the Teagasc office in Boyle in my constituency. It will continue to service 500 farmers in north Roscommon. I reject the Fine Gael pretence to be the friend of the farmer and rural Ireland. Fine Gael can only get into Government with Labour and the Green Party, neither of which is a friend of the farmer.

Mr. Naughten

Who will Fianna Fáil go into Government with? Will it be Sinn Féin?

Mary Coughlan

Not the Greens.

Mr. Finneran

Rather than attack a Minister who is doing her best to protect our interests, Fine Gael should explain——

Mr. Naughten

Fianna Fáil members should make up their minds.

Mr. Browne

Fine Gael, Labour and the Greens still will not have enough to form a Government.

Mr. Finneran

I refer to the Labour Party statement earlier in which the party proposed to transfer the rural development portfolio to the Department of Agriculture and Food. That proves a rainbow coalition of Fine Gael, Labour and the Greens would be no friend of the farmer and rural Ireland.

Mr. Stanton

There will not be any farmers left by the time the Government is finished.

Mr. Moloney

As I drove to the House from home on Tuesday morning, I was astonished when I heard Deputy Naughten calling for a vote of no confidence in the Minister. I thought that perhaps Fine Gael was looking for the softest touch in the Cabinet.

Dr. Twomey

Fianna Fáil Members would want to get rid of the magic mushrooms. I do not know what they are on.

Mr. Moloney

I called the Chief Whip's office wondering whether I could make a brief contribution to the debate and discovered that approximately 60 backbenchers wanted to contribute, which is a record.

Mr. Naughten

Not many of them are present.

Mr. Moloney

We must share time and they are following the debate on their monitors. The Minister has secured a number of achievements and successes. Many party election manifestos over the years referred to encouraging people to participate in agriculture. Opposition parties usually paid lip-service to this but, thankfully, the Minister secured amendments to the Finance Bill to provide tax concessions to Macra na Feirme members and other young people with ability and drive who want to farm.

Mr. Naughten

Is that why the IFA walked out of the partnership talks?

Mr. Moloney

I am not sure why the delegation walked out. The president of Macra na Feirme issued a statement congratulating the Minister because at long last the body had been heard and a positive response rather than lip-service received regarding support.

The Minister deserves congratulations in many areas. It was a tough challenge to deal with the CAP, which despite extensive reform, came under sustained pressure. The Minister ably represented the Irish and EU interest in WTO negotiations on agriculture. The single payment scheme marked the commencement of a new era in agriculture. When people are happy with such achievements, they are easily glossed over but it is important to acknowledge the investment provided under the scheme. On 1 December 2005, the earliest start date under the EU regulation, the scheme commenced, as planned, with almost €1 billion in payments to 110,000 farmers, representing approximately 85% of applicants. Payments at the end of the year amounted to in excess of €1 billion. The Minister delivered to the farming sector.

I refer to the overshoot in special beef premiums about which we all came under pressure from the IFA. When the issue was resolved, the package included funding of €17.5 million benefitting 25,000 farmers. Among the Minister's other achievements is the record number of farmers participating in environmental schemes and a rural development package. The Minister has proved a success across the board but it is more important to be successful outside the House than inside. I support her and recognise her achievements.

Mr. Wilkinson

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. Deputy Coughlan is a wonderful Minister for Agriculture and Food.

Dr. Twomey

The Minister will receive many Valentine's cards next week.

Mr. Wilkinson

Last week, I had the pleasure of a visit from the Minister in my constituency. She spent six hours with numerous delegations representing people connected with farming. All the main bodies and each of the delegates were more than impressed at her knowledge of farming and her commitment to it. She has done wonderful work since taking up office. She now deals with three issues, one jointly, namely, the nitrates issue.

We live in a time of change and challenge. Contrary to the message we get from Opposition benches, we have a strong and vibrant farming industry because farmers are very pragmatic people. However, we are faced with the nitrates question, particularly for the pig and poultry sector. I wonder if the pig and poultry sector were forgotten up to now by their representatives. The nitrates directive, as it currently stands, would not be helpful to these two industries. I have confidence in both Ministers that, with the help of scientific advice, they will reach a solution to the problem.

On the sugar beet issue, there is no doubt that sugar beet is part and parcel of the Irish farming scene. There were shock waves when the word came through that we were not to have a sugar beet industry in the future. It is amazing that farmers were divided when the word came through. Some want to continue growing beet while others are emphatic that the compensation must be maximised, which I understand. Last week, in Waterford, farmers from both sides of the divide spoke to the Minister, Deputy Coughlan. It is a difficult issue. It is a great loss to farming but we must move on. We must consider new crops that will take the place of sugar beet.

I watched "Prime Time" last night and I think the Fine Gael and Labour parties have a massive problem. I listened to the Green Party representative, and whatever about the situation at the moment in regard to the nitrates directive, if that party has its way, I do not know how the Fine Gael and Labour parties will be able to reconcile their views with the views of that party.

Mr. Connaughton

They are very close to what the Minister is proposing. Stay in bed, Mary.

Mr. Wilkinson

It is not for me to say, but it will make for interesting times. We will watch and see what happens.

(Interruptions).

Mr. Connaughton

The two Marys have delivered well.

Mr. Wilkinson

As the Minister indicated, labelling is an important issue. Consumers are demanding full information and assurance about the food they eat. I commend the Minister for her proactive approach to beef labelling since being appointed.

Mr. Stanton

What about the chickens?

Mary Coughlan

The Deputy's party contemplated for long enough and did nothing.

Mr. Wilkinson

Legislation is well advanced and it is expected to be enacted soon. This will require hotels, restaurants, pubs and all those involved in catering to provide their customers with information on the country of origin of the beef they are serving. While labelling of beef is already compulsory at retail level, it has not been mandatory in these sectors. The drafting of the subsidiary beef regulations is well advanced and consultation with the Department of Health and Children and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland is under way on the details, including enforcement. While the regulations will have to be submitted to the EU for approval, it is hoped this process will not delay the making of final regulations.

Mr. Naughten

I hope it is quicker than the waste management grants.

Mr. Wilkinson

While the legislative process is being completed, the representative bodies for hotels, restaurants and pubs have agreed to recommend to their members to provide information on a voluntary basis. The next step will be to extend the process of labelling of country of origin to other meats, primarily poultry meat, pigmeat and sheep meat at retail and catering level. Because of different traceability systems, and some import-export complexities, it would not be as straightforward for other meats as it is for beef, and EU approval has not yet been given for this in any other member state.

The Minister for Agriculture and Food is certainly representing farmers well, both at home and abroad. I have no problem supporting the amendment to the motion.

Mr. M. Moynihan

Thank you, a Cheann Chomhairle, for the opportunity to contribute to the debate. I thank the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, for visiting Cork North-West in October. We met many delegations from the farming community from right across the industry, including the co-operatives. It would be remiss of me not to mention New Zealand Genetics, one organisation we met at that time. We had a great day with the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, Peter Daly, its chief executive and his family. They had a great industry built up over a ten year period. It made a great contribution to the Irish Breeding Society and so on. Mr. Peter Daly, who was a neighbour of mine, lost his life in a tragic farming accident in January. I take this opportunity to extend our sympathy to his wife and family, and to all who mourn his passing.

The Minister, Deputy Coughlan, has been a great ambassador for agriculture. On many occasions since her appointment she has encouraged agriculture. She is ably assisted by her two Ministers of State, Deputy Browne and Deputy Brendan Smith, who know the agricultural scene well and have its future at heart.

In the few minutes allotted to me tonight, I will talk about the sugar reforms and where Irish Sugar stands at this stage. A decision on the future of beet growing in Ireland will be a commercial decision taken by the stakeholders concerned, having regard to the reform of the EU sugar regime, which was agreed by the Council of Ministers in November. The regime has remained largely unchanged for 40 years but its reform was inevitable and could no longer be postponed for reasons that are well known to and accepted by all in this House.

There were increasing internal EU pressures to bring sugar into line with all other agricultural sectors. There were largely international pressures arising from the Everything But Arms Agreement, the WTO round of trade negotiations and the ruling by the WTO panel against aspects of the EU sugar regime, following a complaint by Brazil, Thailand and Australia. The decision by the WTO arbitrator that the EU must implement the panel's ruling by 22 May 2006 added to the pressure for early action. There was considerable support for the ambition of the UK Presidency to achieve political agreement ahead of the WTO ministerial meeting in Hong Kong in December. As the sugar regime in its current form expires at the end of 2006, there was need for an early decision on future arrangements to avoid a legal vacuum from next July.

The political agreement in November in regard to reform of the regime was the culmination of a protracted and difficult negotiating process. During that negotiating process, the Minister engaged with the stakeholders on a regular basis and had their full support for her negotiating stance. The outcome from Ireland's perspective was the best possible deal in very difficult circumstances. The main features of the reform package have already been widely publicised. The Minister succeeded in having the proposals changed to provide a longer phasing-in period as well as a number of options to enable the sector to adapt to the new regime. There will be a lower reduction in the support price of sugar than originally proposed, 36% instead of 39%, as well as phasing in of the corresponding reductions in the minimum sugar beet price over four years instead of the two-step reduction originally proposed.

The Minister also secured an enhanced compensation package. Beet growers will be compensated for up to 64% of the price reduction, in the form of direct payments that will be worth approximately €121 million to Irish beet growers over the next seven years. A once-off payment of almost €44 million will also become available for the benefit of beet growers in the event that sugar beet production ceases in Ireland. In that event also, an aid package of up to €145 million would become available for the economic, social and environmental costs of the restructuring of the Irish sugar industry involving factory closure and renunciation of quota. This would involve the submission of a detailed restructuring plan for the industry.

The reform agreement provides that 10% of the restructuring fund will be reserved for sugar beet growers and machinery contractors to compensate notably for losses arising from investment in specialised machinery. This proportion may be increased by member states after consultation with interested parties, provided that an economically sound balance between the elements of the restructuring plan is ensured. The entire compensation package for Irish stakeholders has an estimated value of in excess of €300 million.

The final legal text of the reform has yet to be adopted. I understand the Minister will meet the Council of Ministers within two weeks to discuss this matter. I congratulate the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, and her Ministers of State for the enormous amount of work they are doing on behalf of Irish agriculture. All of us who have the betterment of the Irish agriculture industry at heart should strive to ensure there is a viable future for farming.

Mr. Ferris

I wish to share time with Deputies Sargent, Connolly, Cowley and McHugh.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Mr. Ferris

I support the motion and its criticism of the manner in which Irish agriculture is being administered. No doubt the Minister has the best of intentions. Many of the issues referred to in the motion precede her term in office or are beyond her control but the Government still bears overall responsibility.

Among the issues referred to in the motion is the infamous nitrates directive. This issue has been left unresolved since 1991. No Government or Minister for Agriculture and Food, be they from the current coalition or parties from previous Governments that included Fine Gael and Labour, has done anything to resolve it. Putting this matter on the long finger for 15 years has led to a situation where farmers are now expected to adapt to measures introduced all at once and in a manner that appears to take little account of specifically Irish conditions or the relevant scientific research, such as it is. Some of that research has not been taken into consideration. Had this been the case and had it been done within an earlier timeframe, a more coherent argument could have been presented to the EU in support of a different approach being taken.

I concur with criticism of the Government's handling of the sugar beet issue. In effect, what we are witnessing is a process under which the Irish sugar beet sector is faced with destruction. The history of the sugar beet growers' contribution to rural Ireland cannot be emphasised enough. The EU has decided to sacrifice the sugar industry as part of its effort to secure a deal with the WTO. The Government ought to have resisted this and put up a stronger fight to save the industry. The thousands of growers and the many others in the sugar factories who have lost jobs or are threatened with the loss of their jobs deserve better.

Even if it is too late to save the sugar industry as it stands, I strongly urge the Minister to devote real efforts to directing the growing and processing of beet towards the production of biofuels. The State will have to meet EU targets for biofuels in the coming years and sugar beet and the existing processing facilities clearly present an opportunity, not only of meeting these but of placing Ireland prominently in what will be an expanding area in the future.

Many other issues are of concern, some of which, like food labelling and country of origin, are referred to in the motion. The ongoing contraction of income and falling farm numbers are also of serious concern. The rural development 2025 report forecasts that there will be around 10,000 full-time farmers in 20 years' time. That is a catastrophic prediction. The report appears to envisage an eventual elimination of small family farms and the consolidation of large commercially viable enterprises. If this happens, it will herald the destruction of rural Ireland. There is an onus on all of us, both in Government and in Opposition, to work collectively to ensure this will not be the case.

I wish to briefly refer to genetically modified, GM, food. Judging from the Minister's reply to my question about the growing of a trial GM potato crop in Meath, she appears to believe that this is none of her concern. Given that GM crops will inevitably contaminate conventional species, the implications for Irish farming and the marketing of Irish food produce are potentially catastrophic. I appeal to the Minister to make it her business to ensure that the Government reverses its pro-GM stance in the interests of Irish farmers and consumers. The argument has been put forward that GM crops can be grown alongside conventional crops without being contaminated but the evidence, both scientific and otherwise, is to the contrary.

Mr. Sargent

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí eile as a gcuid ama a roinnt liom. This motion calls into question a general lack of effectiveness on the part of the Minister for Agriculture and Food. It is fundamental that we take stock of farming in this country and this motion is an important opportunity to do this.

After a parent, the work of a farmer is probably the most important job a person can do. Food is something which nobody can live for very long without and its production is of the utmost importance. There are similarities between being a parent and being a farmer. Both need money, both must plan beyond the life of any Government and both are sometimes under pressure to the extent that it is hard for them to know how they will manage in the weeks to come. For both farmers and parents one thing that is certain is that nitrates are a cancer-causing poison. It is not possible to live with nitrates in any significant quantities.

Thankfully, the Environmental Protection Agency's reports on water pollution show that we have better water quality than in most European countries. In spite of that, however, there is still a worrying trend. Between a quarter and a third of drinking water from lakes and rivers is polluted and a high level of nitrates has been found in drinking water in 13 counties. In 2004, the European Court of Justice found Ireland guilty on every count of breaching the nitrates directive.

I do not blame farmers for most of this problem. We should remember that local authorities have responsibilities in this regard. Many companies contribute to the problem through discharge to receiving waters. There has been a 15-year delay in implementing the directive, which is forcing us to adopt what are, essentially, panic measures. Teagasc has been caught up in that panic response because it has been told to come up with the data, but in such haste that they do not stand up to the scrutiny they are now coming under. It strikes me that if the nitrates directive had been called the arsenic directive, we would have probably got action without 15 years of foot dragging.

Somehow people think nitrates are like nitrogen or oxygen — part of the air we breathe. The Government motion to absolve the Minister is no defence for what amounts to criminal neglect when we take into account the poisonous character of nitrates. It begs the question of why measures were not put in place in advance of the guillotine coming down. The measures that were put in place are very little and very late. Every county should have anaerobic digesters. The figures for organic production should be much higher at this stage, given that it is at 4% in Wales and 11% in Austria. We are still languishing around 1% and if we get to 1%, the Minister will think she is doing great.

A previous speaker referred to farmers leaving the land. In 1997 farmers comprised 9.6% of workers and in 2002 they were 7% of the total workforce. The general infrastructure of farming is being made ever more intensive. According to 2001 figures, 700 abattoirs closed in the previous decade.

The Minister must face the charges being brought against her in terms of the sugar beet industry. It was my colleague, Councillor Mary White, who went to find an ethanol producing plant to try to provide some hope for farmers left destitute by the closure of the sugar beet factory in Carlow. It is my party's Councillor Mary White, not Senator Mary White of the Minister's party, to whom I refer in this regard.

Mary Coughlan

She was not at the negotiations which achieved the once-off payment of €44 million.

Mr. Sargent

The GM issue, mentioned by the last speaker, is symptomatic of the problem here. The Minister states this matter is the problem of somebody else — the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Teagasc and the European Commission. The same applies with the GM issue. It is the Minister's problem. It is affecting food and it is affecting farming. It will have a major impact on her responsibility and she cannot absolve herself of that responsibility. She must stand as charged.

Mr. Connolly

Ireland's water quality is the envy of the western world, attested to by no less an organisation than the Earth Institute of Columbia University and the Environment School at Yale University in the US.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos in Switzerland the 2006 Environmental Performance Index placed Ireland tenth out of 133 countries for environmental health and 23rd for water quality. That is amazing. Ireland is top of the European champions league for water quality, with Norway and Switzerland, and the consensus at Davos was that our water could not be cleaner. What is all the fuss about? The nitrates directive is putting the livelihoods and viability of thousands of farmers at risk with its overkill insistence that we should have even purer water than the purest in Europe. Many of the 22 countries rated above us in the water quality league are among the poorest, with little or no economic activity that would be instrumental in polluting their rivers, in other words, we beggar the farming community to achieve virtually unachievable cleaner water standards. The EPA water quality report also showed that 98% of 301 Irish sites tested met or exceeded the EU standard. The reality has been totally overlooked by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in its anxiety to penalise progressive farmers.

The nitrates directive is also being stuffed down the throats of Irish farmers for whom it is least suited. Ireland is caught in a measure that was designed as a cure-all directive for the community in Europe. Its implications are massive for farming families who cannot afford a 20% drop in income. For farmers who have kids to send to school, it is grossly unfair.

Every effort must be made to ensure that Brussels does not ruin Ireland's unique agrifood contribution to the EU, of high grass production and an unusually long growing season. For most of the year Ireland's conditions are excellent for grass growth and stocking.

While I must wrap up here, I understand that the overwhelming majority of the EU's 25 member states have failed to incorporate the directive into national legislation as it was intended by Brussels. We see this in all aspects of European life, where we take every European directive to the letter of the law whereas other neighbouring countries do not. I would call for a deferral of the nitrates regulations to enable a compromise solution to emerge and to enable a proper and comprehensive evaluation to take place.

Dr. Cowley

We, in Ireland, are good Europeans but sometimes we go a bit too far. The Government has, on more than one occasion, thrown out the baby with the bath water such is its wish to keep in with its European partners and to be seen as good Europeans. Following the habitats directive, when the Government totally over-did it by designating far beyond what should have been designated, we are still paying the price for that over-enthusiasm by the Government.

In the nitrates directive interpretation the Government is going down the same old road. Farmers have left Mayo in their thousands but this was predicted in the Mansholt plan. After the loss of thousands of farmers from the land of Mayo, what did the brave Minister do? All these people who were decentralised to Castlebar had to go all the way back up the hill to the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon's, country.

Mary Coughlan

They did not move far, they went up the stairs. Only for me, nothing would be sorted. He should not give me that rubbish.

Dr. Cowley

Just to finish farmers off altogether, an entire economy dependent on farmers will suffer — shopkeepers, suppliers etc. Today the IFA pulled out of the partnership talks, but it did not do it lightly. So seriously has the IFA seen this issue that even though it represents 20% of the economy, it has still pulled out of the talks because it is fed up.

This will impact on all farmers across Ireland. There are 50,000 REPS farmers. The impact of cutting fertiliser use by 30% on tillage farmers means a severe reduction in nitrogen fertiliser use in crops and the import is right across the entire block. The nitrates regulation will criminalise the good and decent farmers of Ireland who have been led up the garden path by their advisers to behave in a certain way in the interests of good animal and crop husbandry. As all that has now been taken from them, all the Minister has to offer them is more criminalisation. My message to the Minister is to get sense and bring in common sense regulations that are workable and that will protect our water quality and allow Irish farmers to remain competitive and on the land. She should do that at least.

Mr. Healy

I support this motion. There is no doubt in my mind that the nitrates directive has been mishandled, not only by the Government but by successive Governments dating back to 1991. Some 15 years later there is confusion, fear and anger in the farming community and, indeed, in the scientific community and there are serious difficulties between farmers and Teagasc as a result. I would have thought that over a much shorter period of time there would have been widespread consultation with all the stakeholders on this matter, and that the Government would not allow a situation arise where, following a European Court of Justice case against Ireland in 2004, the panic reaction is to introduce this directive.

I welcome the suspension of the phosphate portion of this directive. It is eminently reasonable in the circumstances, and particularly having regard to the scientific evidence, that this entire directive should be suspended and I hope that the Minister would agree to do that.

The motion also refers to food labelling. Food labelling is an important area for the Irish economy, for farm products and for products that derive from the farm gate. In some cases food labels list a country of origin, a different country which is where reprocessing occurred and a third country which is a packaging or repackaging country. In many cases it is not clear what is the country of origin. It is important that housewives are in a position to determine what they buy as an Irish product. In addition, some of these products are being resold on the international market on the basis of being Irish products when that is not the case.

Mr. McHugh

I do not accept that the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, is an abject failure or that she is guilty of gross negligence.

Mr. Durkan

He is a lick.

(Interruptions).

An Ceann Comhairle

Allow Deputy McHugh without interruption.

Mr. Durkan

Would he like to crawl over?

Mr. McHugh

Although I want to speak critically on the nitrates directive, she is not the only Minister involved in this. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, has a much greater role in the nitrates directive.

Mr. Durkan

Poor old Dick.

Mr. McHugh

There is much hot air and bluster surrounding the introduction of the nitrates directive. The entire process is now so discredited that the only option is to withdraw it immediately and start again, this time with a practical and open approach making available to the public the scientific data and information on which decisions are made. The process is discredited and the public fashion of the criticism by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, of Teagasc was the final nail.

Why reinvent the wheel? In my view, it is simple. Whatever directive is to be introduced should be based on existing criteria which apply to the REP scheme. Teagasc has a standard manual in vogue since 2004 covering the spread of fertiliser, slurry etc. and there is no evidence whatsoever that any pollution of surface water, or indeed ground water, has occurred when the requirements of the Teagasc green book have been applied. The terms of the nitrates directive are more stringent than those applicable to REPS, although there is no evidence to show that the existing requirements are insufficient. This directive will impact strongly on farmers unless it is changed and may drive some farmers out of business. The action plan will place an additional bureaucratic burden on every landowner and farmer as farmers will be required to record every detail of their enterprises, irrespective of their ability to do so.

The draconian measures proposed to police this action plan are reprehensible. For example, the power to enter a private dwelling house at 24 hours' notice and the power of the Garda Síochána to arrest without warrant a person whom it suspects of having committed an offence are measures more akin to those of a dictatorship than a democracy.

The big polluters are not the farmers but sub-standard treatment plants and the absence of treatment plants in towns and villages throughout the country. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government should direct his energies to those problems and stop persecuting farmers.

Mr. Kehoe

I wish to share time with Deputies Connaughton, Enright, Breen and Twomey.

I was waiting for the Minister for Agriculture and Food to give Deputy McHugh a big hug and say, "Welcome back", but unfortunately that did not happen.

The constant stream of bad news coming from the Department of Agriculture and Food is a major source of concern to everybody in the farming community. The two issues exciting farmers in my constituency are the sugar beet industry and the infamous nitrates directive. The sugar beet industry has been a vital element of the agriculture sector in County Wexford and its loss will have severe consequences for the farmers, contractors, hauliers, and other people working within the industry. There are rural families who have been committed to the industry for many years and through several generations. The loss of the industry is a major blow to many farmers' livelihoods.

The Minister has failed to outline where the division of the €145 million compensation will take place. The lion's share must not go to Greencore; it must go to help the farmers. I hope the Minister is listening. Many families operating progressively and successfully within the beet sector face an income crisis.

The Minister has also failed to ensure that their incomes can be protected through access to adequate compensation, reaching consensus on the reference years for claiming the beef price compensation by way of the EU single farm payment scheme, ensuring clarity regarding prices for next year, and the initiatives to advance alternatives to the sugar beet crop and land use. The failures on this issue alone will cause untold hardship and distress to farmers throughout the country, especially those in County Wexford.

The introduction of the nitrates directive has been a shambles. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, informed us that between 13 and 15 years of planning have gone into this issue. I would like to see what planning he put into it because he directed this overnight. The farmers, however, have not received any information briefings on the matter. Furthermore, the restrictive nature of parts of the plan means the interpretations of the directive contradict the REPS plan submitted to the Department of Agriculture and Food this year.

Other farmers, especially in the pig and poultry sectors, face a major predicament to reconcile the viability of their farms with the restrictive practices imposed under the directive. The Government has defended the basis of this plan on the grounds that it now appears to question scientific information.

Water quality has also gone quickly off the agenda. We saw the unseemly behaviour of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government playing the blame game with Teagasc on national television last night. It became obvious that the one person who should have made a clear, concise statement on the matter, namely, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, had fallen silent. She disappeared before Christmas and for the month of January and is in the House now only because the Irish Farmers Association has put her under severe pressure over recent days.

Mary Coughlan

That is untrue.

Mr. Kehoe

Has the Minister underestimated the impact of this directive on the farming sector or has she just decided to turn a blind eye to it, like her Ministers of State have done?

Mary Coughlan

No. That is why I secured a package of €46 million this year to deal with it.

Mr. Kehoe

The prospect of the major farming representative body pulling away from the partnership talks should be a major concern for the Minister and the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith.

Mr. B. Smith

The Deputy was running down partnership a few weeks ago.

Mr. Kehoe

The Taoiseach said the position the Government has obtained is satisfactory. Fianna Fáil backbenchers have spoken from both sides of their mouths in recent days. One blames the Minister for Agriculture and Food, the other blames the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I blame both Ministers and the Taoiseach. These failures are unacceptable.

We must insist that the Minister for Agriculture and Food take responsibility for poor performance on this issue, as well as on the sugar beet crisis. The food labelling debacle and many other issues that farmers have overcome have already created a difficult climate. I call on the Minister to take leadership on the nitrates issue sooner rather than later.

Mr. Connaughton

The nitrates directive is a shambles as the Minister knows better than most.

Mary Coughlan

I am delighted to get so much advice from the boys in Opposition.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Minister should allow the Deputy to speak without interruption.

Mr. Connaughton

The Minister had a great chance to do something about this but she did nothing about it.

An Ceann Comhairle

Due to the time limit I appeal to Deputies to address their remarks through the Chair.

Mr. Connaughton

Indeed. I assume the same applies to the Minister.

An Ceann Comhairle

I have already told the Minister to allow the Deputy to continue without interruption.

Mr. Connaughton

This has turned out to be a different proposition from that which should have been implemented three months ago. Since the Minister took office she has closed three vital farming sectors. She stood aside when the beet growers were wiped off the face of the earth a few months ago. To compound that, she and that great advocate——

Mary Coughlan

I do not know what the Deputy is talking about.

An Ceann Comhairle

I ask the Minister to allow the Deputy to speak.

Mr. Connaughton

The Minister does not like listening to this but she is going to hear because she should hear it.

Mary Coughlan

That is factually incorrect.

Mr. B. Smith

That is not true.

Mr. Connaughton

Where did the sugar industry go? It was wiped off the face of the earth.

Mary Coughlan

The farmers will not grow for nothing. Even the Wexford fellows will not do that.

Mr. B. Smith

What the Deputy said is nonsense.

Mr. Connaughton

That great advocate and friend of the farming community, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, has connived with the Minister for Agriculture and Food to destroy the livelihood of every pig and poultry farmer in the country. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government appeared on television last night doing his level best to ensure Teagasc was blamed for all these problems.

When the Minister for Agriculture and Food replies, will she inform the house whether she believes Teagasc is at fault?

Mary Coughlan

I cannot answer that.

Mr. Connaughton

The Minister does not want to answer.

Mary Coughlan

I cannot answer it because I have already spoken.

Mr. Connaughton

That is a three-card trick answer. The Minister should tell the House what she thinks of Teagasc.

Mary Coughlan

I gave a very good speech. I explained it all in the House but the Deputy was not present at the time.

Mr. Connaughton

No Minister in the history of the State has done more damage in a year than this Minister. It is nothing short of outrageous that the sugar beet, pig and poultry producers are consigned to the bogholes of Ireland. They are gone. The Minister has wiped them out.

Mary Coughlan

There is no sugar beet growing in the bog.

Mr. Connaughton

The Minister does not even acknowledge their contribution. That is bad, but what the Minister is doing to the 50,000 farmers in REPS is nothing short of despicable. She and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government frightened the daylights out of the decent hard-working farmers who, being environmentally conscious, committed their farms——

Mary Coughlan

Boys like the Deputy frightened them.

Mr. B. Smith

Scaremongering.

Mr. Connaughton

The Minister may not like it but she should listen to it because it is true.

Mary Coughlan

We have never paid out so much.

Mr. Connaughton

The farmers proved it was true when they walked out of the partnership talks this evening. The Minister is far from the CAP now.

Mary Coughlan

Only for Fianna Fáil there would be no CAP because the boys in Opposition would have succumbed.

Mr. Connaughton

I know the Minister does not like to hear this but she should listen.

An Ceann Comhairle

I understand the Deputy is sharing time with colleagues.

Mr. Connaughton

Am I finished?

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy has half a minute remaining.

Mr. Connaughton

I thought I was entitled to more because of the interruptions. I have many good things to say but obviously I will not get the chance to say them.

Mary Coughlan

The Deputy is like me.

Mr. Connaughton

The Minister has succeeded only in frightening the people in the front line.

Mr. B. Smith

That is untrue.

Mr. Connaughton

They thought they were the leaders and the Minister has pulled them all down to a common denominator until nobody knows where they are going. Unless this Government——

Mr. Kehoe

The Minister is lucky Deputy Crawford is not here because he would put the Minister in her box.

Mary Coughlan

I blame him.

Mr. B. Smith

He is the man who backed every cutback that the then Minister for Agriculture, Ivan Yates, introduced.

Mr. Connaughton

The Minister told the farmers that on 1 January this year, she was introducing the on-farm special scheme for pollution.

Mary Coughlan

I did not. I said it would be ready at the beginning of the new year.

Mr. Connaughton

The Minister negotiated that it should last for 12 months. Half the year has now passed, and there is still no scheme.

(Interruptions).

An Ceann Comhairle

Allow Deputy Connaughton without interruption.

Mr. Connaughton

Going by the kinds of planning permission, the Minister knows better than I what will happen. It is another three-card trick, and farmers have the worst of all worlds. Let the Minister or Minister of State stand up and talk to the REPS farmers. They have taken the ground from under them. Some of those on the Government benches would not know what a REPS farmer is. However, I guarantee that they will know it before the year is out.

Ms Enright

This motion was not tabled lightly but in response to sustained negative targeting of farmers by the Government over the past year, leaving them in genuine fear for their existence.

The sugar sector has been in turmoil since the devastating deal the Minister tried to pass off as a victory last year. She adopted a sell-out approach throughout the debate on the future of the sugar industry, and for the first time in the history of farming negotiations, the EU and the Government practically colluded in wiping out a viable industry. Driving through part of Laois last weekend and seeing the familiar sight of the sugar beet on the side of the road, I was struck, as, I am sure, many colleagues would be, by the fact that something that was commonplace across Laois and Offaly may very well cease to be a part of rural life in our area.

The Minister has still offered no clarification on the compensation package and has yet to make a commitment regarding how much compensation farmers will receive. She failed to side with the farmer at the EU talks in adopting her sell-out approach. She must now make a commitment that she will not let them down again on the compensation package. She must stand by the beet-growers this time.

Not content with closing down the beet sector, she decided to move on to the pig and poultry sectors and all other farming areas too, in partnership with her colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche. There may be attempts to lay all the blame at his door, but it is she who is in charge of the Department of Agriculture and Food and whom farmers expect to represent their view. In any event, there is still the thorny issue of collective Cabinet responsibility enshrined in our Constitution, so no one in the Government can wash his or her hands of this.

These regulations will virtually destroy the pig and poultry sectors, and will have a detrimental impact on our dairy and beef industries. We have always been told that the environmental standards required under REPS were best practice. The inexplicable aspect of the nitrates regulations is that they run contrary to REPS. Everyone involved in farming contends that there was very little, if any, consultation between Departments before signing the regulation. The EPA has stated that water quality in Ireland is among the best in Europe, so treating Irish farms in the same manner as farms in other EU countries is not comparing like with like. In any case, something that cannot be implemented will not contribute to protecting water. Sending farmers to jail, the ultimate penalty under the directive, will make little difference.

I am sick of hearing Government backbenchers and middle-benchers criticise the bureaucracy in farming while standing by and watching the Minister implement a directive that will add so much more by requiring farmers to prepare and maintain detailed records of all their fertiliser requirements, purchases and stocks for five years. To say that they will be bogged down is an understatement. Both large and small farmers will have their operations severely restricted if they have to implement these regulations. If they are farming in such a way as to need early grass, they will be severely restricted by the limitations on spreading nitrates and phosphates.

I am not sure that the Minister fully appreciates the seriousness of the situation. She said in a statement designed to reassure pig-farmers on 28 November that it was a situation where farmers could help other farmers, by accepting pig slurry.

Mary Coughlan

I stand by that statement.

Ms Enright

That is far from accurate.

Mary Coughlan

They are obviously not the usual ones that they are talking about.

Ms Enright

They can do that now, but under the regulations and directive, farmers would be terrified to accept slurry for fear of the repercussions. People can try all they like to claim credit for a limited deferral, but it only puts it off. The IFA and Macra na Feirme were left with no option today but to walk out of partnership talks, so deep was their frustration. The response of the Government, of which all the Deputies opposite are part, was to say that the farmers' actions had been noted. I warn the Minister that the actions of her Government and its appalling handling of the issue have also been noted.

Mary Coughlan

The Deputy should not bother warning me.

Mr. P. Breen

The first observation to be made regarding the nitrates directive is the Government's shocking and criminal failure to deal with the problem. I watched the "Six-one" news this evening and saw the IFA's new president, Pádraig Walshe, say that the measure could not be implemented. That is his reaction when the farmers pulled out of partnership negotiations today. Last Friday in Ennis, the Minister's colleague, Deputy Roche, was greeted by angry farmers when he arrived at his hotel. The Minister would be greeted by angry farmers if she decided to tour the country.

Mary Coughlan

I meet the farmers every day of the week.

Mr. P. Breen

She will be greeted with anger in the constituencies.

An Ceann Comhairle

Please allow Deputy Breen.

Mr. P. Breen

The nitrates directive was agreed by the EU in 1991, some 15 years ago, when the former Fianna Fáil leader Charles Haughey was Taoiseach. In the interim, the Government has acted as if it had never heard of the directive until recently. Meanwhile, in the drive to clean up brown water by limiting the use of livestock manure on farms to 170 kg per hectare, it seems that we have missed out on water quality. We share the best water quality in Europe with Switzerland and Norway, and we are ranked 23rd in the world according to a study by Columbia University.

What also seems to have been missed is the continued importance of agriculture to our economy. In my constituency in County Clare, there are 6,000 farms employing more than 11,500 people, all of whom will be affected by the directive. The delegation here last week said that farmers in Clare will be wiped off the map if the directive goes through. The difference between the REPS plan permits on the spreading of nitrogen fertiliser and the new nitrates directive restrictions is more than one bag per acre. The new restrictions on spreading slurry will dramatically increase the need for storage capacity on farms. Sadly, the lack of preparedness for this directive on the Government's part is typical of how it treats agriculture.

The nitrates directive is an example of regulation gone wrong — not too much, but the wrong kind applied in inappropriate circumstances. Originally, it was negotiated badly by the Government which stuck its head in the sand until the European Court of Justice found against it for failing to implement the directive. Since then, implementation has been badly thought out, and farmers do not even know what will happen. There is no direction from the Government, and all farmers know is that they are now liable for jail terms of up to six months for non-compliance. The recently announced deferral of implementation of the key element relating to phosphorous levels is the Minister's first sensible move in this debate, and I appeal to her to do the same regarding nitrates.

The other issue about which I would like to talk is labelling, to which some speakers tonight referred. The Government has failed to prevent deception of the consumer by allowing pork products to be falsely passed off as Irish packets of rashers when they are nothing of the sort. The two issues are related. Both ultimately affect Irish farmers' livelihood, contributing to a growing sense of powerlessness that they experience because of runaway bureaucracy, an uninterested Government and flooding of the market with cheap and insufficiently regulated produce. The most basic regulations——

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy's time is concluded.

Mr. P. Breen

There are problems, particularly regarding packets of rashers. Unless they have the Bord Bia "origin Ireland" logo displaying the shamrock, consumers are missing out.

Dr. Twomey

I hope tonight the Minister will lead all those backbenchers who have declared such undying affection for her in singing a bar of "Four Green [but empty] Fields", since that is the way agriculture will go if she continues with the rules that she has implemented since entering office.

Mary Coughlan

The Deputy is very poetic tonight.

Dr. Twomey

Her mailbag would certainly be full of Oireachtas envelopes next Tuesday, given the rate at which expressions of affection are being thrown in her direction by backbenchers. Unfortunately, Irish farmers do not exactly feel that way about it. She should answer questions regarding what is happening on beet. It is a very important issue, and the deadline for growing beet is drawing near, yet still a large number of questions remain unanswered. Greencore has stated that it might pull out of the beet industry this year. All that it need do is close its plant in Mallow.

Have there been any negotiations between the Government and Greencore regarding the compensation fund? If so, what was their outcome? Greencore feels that it is legally entitled to most of the compensation fund. If that is the case, farmers will get less than half — if it is to be paid out. People feel that to save the Government's neck at the next general election, Greencore must keep the plant in Mallow open this year, charge the farmers €25 million, close it down next year and collect a nice fat bonus from the Government — after the next election. The Government needs to come clean on how much compensation the farmers will receive. The Government should not make excuses about what is happening in Brussels——

Mary Coughlan

I cannot say until I see the text.

Dr. Twomey

The Minister knows.

Mary Coughlan

I cannot say.

An Ceann Comhairle

Allow the Deputy without interruption.

Dr. Twomey

I guarantee that if the Government knew it would be giving out over €100 million, the announcement would have been made four times by now, with or without EU laws. The fact the Minister is saying nothing and is singing dumb means those of us on this side of the House do not believe her. If we are wrong, she should say we are wrong and tell us how much the farmers and Greencore will get. If the plant in Mallow is closed we will know very quickly and the Minister's shallowness will be exposed if Greencore does not get what it wants from her.

With regard to the nitrates directive, the way the Sheikh of Dubai, the Minister, Deputy Roche, was talking last night, one would think he was only interested in the environment and that this was a subject very close to his heart but this means nothing. What action will he take about the raw sewage pouring into our rivers across the country other than blaming farmers whom he regards as the chief culprits for every form of pollution? Huge amounts of raw sewage not of animal origin is being poured into rivers and seas across the country yet this Government has done nothing to invest in alleviating this problem.

Food labelling is an important issue. We have gone a long way towards preventing variant CJD. The feeding of bonemeal to animals was stopped because of the risks to health. However, food of unknown origin is coming into the country. The Minister is sitting back and blaming the EU for all the problems.

(Interruptions).

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food (Mr. B. Smith)

This Government has unfailingly shown a total commitment to agriculture and the agri-food sector. It has always recognised the economic and social significance of our most important indigenous industry. I suggest the Opposition listen.

Mr. McCormack

Who wrote the script?

Mary Coughlan

He wrote it himself.

Mr. B. Smith

I, Brendan Smith, wrote it.

Mr. McCormack

That makes it worse.

Mr. B. Smith

The record of achievement of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, and her proactive approach since her appointment as Minister for Agriculture and Food, has been outstanding. There is no need for me to reiterate her achievements as they are on the record of the House. Opposition attempts to create the impression of a crisis crumbled in the face of the record spelled out last night in the House.

I listened patiently to Opposition attempts to suggest the Government has neglected food labelling but I regard this as nonsense.

Mr. Hayes

The Minister of State should ask Deputy Ned O'Keeffe about food labelling.

Mr. B. Smith

Time constraints prevented the Minister from detailing the exceptional progress made in implementing the recommendations of the food labelling group——

Mr. Kehoe

Deputy Ned O'Keeffe brought a packet of rashers into the House.

Mr. B. Smith

On the issue of complaints of mislabelling of foods, the Government has centralised the enforcement of all food labelling regulations in the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. This not only streamlines the enforcement measures but also provides a one-stop shop for consumer complaints about labelling.

We recognised consumer demand for information on the origin of beef used in restaurants and the catering sector. National primary legislation was required due to the lack of EU legislation and is now well advanced by way of amendment to section 54 of the Health Act 1947 by means of the Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2005. Subject to enactment of this legislation and EU approval of the appropriate regulations, it will be a mandatory requirement to provide country of origin information to consumers in respect of beef served in restaurants and hotels and in use in the catering sector.

I sympathise with the concerns expressed about products which are imported into the Community and which once processed, are described as being the product of a particular member state. This practice arises from a concept known as "substantial transformation", in the context of European customs regulation. The Minister has raised the matter at the Council of Ministers and has been in direct contact with the EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Affairs, reiterating her concerns on this issue, particularly in the context of the labelling of poultry meat.

Following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, the Minister acted immediately on foot of an EU decision to ban imports from several regions in Brazil. This ban remains in place and the competence for extending or removing the ban lies with the EU Commission. The current ban severely restricts exports of beef from the main exporting areas in Brazil and is consistent with the EU approach of operating in accordance with a principle of regionalisation which was also applied during the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Ireland.

Reference was made to the need for excise relief on biofuels. The Opposition seems to be unaware of the announcement in the budget of the extension of an excise relief scheme to cover annually 163 million litres of biofuel. This is intended to stimulate interest in biofuel development. The research proposals selected for assistance under the research stimulus fund are another element in the measures to promote bio-energy.

The Government is acutely aware of farmers' concerns about the implications of the nitrates regulations.

Mr. Kehoe

Why does it not take action?

Mr. B. Smith

The Deputy should listen and cut out the misrepresentation.

The Minister realised at an early stage that slurry storage and the needs of the intensive dairy, pig and poultry sectors were issues. Following completion of a survey by Teagasc of storage levels on farms, the Minister has made proposals for major improvements to the farm waste management scheme in terms of grant rates and wider sectoral and measure coverage.

Mr. Kehoe

The Government is blaming Teagasc.

Mr. B. Smith

Fine Gael did away with that scheme in the mid-1990s.

Funding of €43 million has been provided for the scheme in the Department's 2006 Estimates. Grant aid is also to be provided to support the demonstration of new technologies in the treatment of livestock manure. This will be of particular benefit to pig and poultry producers.

The early negotiation of a derogation for farmers operating above a level of 170 kg of organic nitrogen per hectare is important for dairy farmers. The Departments of Agriculture and Food and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, are actively engaged with the European Commission in progressing Ireland's derogation request.

A number of Deputies raised the need for an information campaign. A major campaign to inform farmers about the nitrates regulations is being undertaken by my Department working closely with Teagasc and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. This will involve advertising in the farming media, the preparation of a handbook for farmers explaining the regulations in plain language and information meetings for farmers.

Agriculture and the agri-food sector is in a period of major transition. With the broad policy framework in place, the Department has turned its attention to finalising an action plan for the sector. The Government is of the view that agriculture must encompass strong commercial farming as well as part-time farming to create an innovative, market-oriented and multidimensional agri-food sector to serve consumers and markets worldwide.

Mr. G. Murphy

I wish to share time with Deputies Hayes and Naughten.

I listened with interest to my constituency colleague, Deputy Michael Moynihan, and I wondered for a while during his contribution whether we were both living in the same constituency. He barely mentioned the nitrates directive but that may have been in deference to our other constituency colleague, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, who is Minister of State in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which is the Department that caused the problem in the first place.

Mr. M. Moynihan

The Deputy might have missed the opening line of the speech because that was what I wished to put on the record of the House.

Mr. Connaughton

It is a different story at home now.

Mr. G. Murphy

The facts are that Cork North-West is a rural constituency that depends almost entirely on the agricultural industry. Fianna Fáil in Government for 18 out of the past 20 years has presided over the destruction of the farming industry in our constituency. The whole infrastructure in the area is based on market towns like Newmarket, Kanturk, Charleville and Millstreet, which depend totally on a good agricultural industry for their survival. There are three independent co-operatives, Newmarket co-op, North Cork co-op and Boherbee co-op. They are the mainstay of the local economy but they will go into decline as farming is declining in the area.

The proposed rationalisation of Teagasc offices in the area will further lead to a downturn in the economies in these towns. The farmers are confused. They have no idea what the future holds for them. There is no planning, no leadership and no hope for the future of the industry in our area. The simple fact is that Fianna Fáil wrote off the agriculture industry before the last general election; up to then it had simply ignored it.

Fianna Fáil strategists and their American pollsters took a conscious decision that the election could be won. Farming and agriculture no longer had the numbers electorally and so yet again farming could be sacrificed in the EU and world trade negotiations in order to deliver for the Celtic tiger. Farming has always been the building block on which our economy was based and still accounts for a large proportion of our exports. The Government can get away with this strategy as long as the Celtic tiger is still running but there are clouds on the horizon. Firms are moving to economies based on cheaper labour, interest rates are increasing and there is uncertainty over energy supplies whose costs are rising.

That brings me to what used to be the sugar beet industry. It will most certainly have disappeared by the end of next year. A valuable crop for farmers in north Cork was swept away almost overnight with no prospect of a replacement. The valuable factory jobs during the beet campaign helped many smaller farmers in the western region to remain in farming. For years, this activity provided a valuable income for small farmers. Despite the fact that the demise of the sugar industry was inevitable, the Government failed to come up with any positive proposals for an industry based on renewable energy — for example, to make beet growing viable as a biofuel crop or to come up with a replacement crop. There were no plans to convert the sugar factory itself into a modern facility to produce biofuels. The Government has no vision or idea of what the future holds for farmers. It has no plans to address our energy crisis or for biofuel crops. It has a haphazard approach to promoting wind energy which, if done properly, would have gone some way towards making a contribution to farm viability.

This is despite the fact that the security of energy supply is fundamental to keeping the rest of the economy secure. Until recently, it was thought that only strong, committed farmers with intensive, well-run operations would survive but this has proved to be another myth. The nitrates and phosphate directives will put paid to the ambitions of such farmers. The directives hit at the heart of commercial farming and unless the Government makes changes to both directives commercial farming as we know it will be over. Family pig farms cannot cope with the phosphate directive and the poultry sector will also be in serious trouble.

Why will there be a need for the Government and the EU to continue supporting REPS when the proposals on phosphate and nitrates by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, go much further than the REP scheme ever did?

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy's time has concluded.

Mr. G. Murphy

Successive Fianna Fáil Ministers for Agriculture and Food have failed the farming community and rural Ireland generally. Fianna Fáil Ministers for Agriculture for 18 of the past 20 years have failed to protect farming interests. The final straw that will break the agricultural industry is the nitrates directive. As a so-called arm of Government, Teagasc passed the ball to the Minister, Deputy Roche.

Mary Coughlan

That is factually incorrect. The Deputy should withdraw that remark.

Mr. G. Murphy

The Minister and the Department of Agriculture and Food were not even on the pitch at the same time.

Mr. Hayes

Having listened to both sides of the argument, I want to put one proposition to the Minister. She is a very nice person but she has not——

Mary Coughlan

Do not start that condescending rubbish that I have to put up with from Blueshirts.

Mr. Hayes

I want to give the Minister an invitation.

Mary Coughlan

I may be nice but not when it comes to my job.

An Ceann Comhairle

Please allow Deputy Hayes to continue, Minister.

Mr. Hayes

I want to issue an open invitation to the Minister for Agriculture and Food to come to the heart of my constituency——

Mary Coughlan

I have been in it several times.

Mr. Hayes

——without any councillors, backbenchers or anybody else protecting her. If she comes to my constituency I will give her just one example of what is happening on the land. I am genuine about this because I come from a background where we love what we do but young farmers are fleeing the land. Agricultural colleges have been closed down by this Administration.

Mary Coughlan

Not by us.

Mr. Hayes

In my county alone, two agricultural colleges have closed down. People are scared to death by the nitrates directive. In my parish alone, there were 13 pig farmers three years ago but now there are only two. This is due to the administration of the Government. I would like to bring the Minister to meet these people. Only 30 minutes ago I got a call from one of them who is giving up farming. That is what the Minister is doing to the pig industry.

South Tipperary was a great beet growing area. In addition to beet growers, there were many others involved in the industry, including contractors and animal feed producers. The Minister is out of touch with the agricultural sector. She should come to visit those people to see their problems but she is far away from the reality and does not understand what is happening.

Mary Coughlan

My constituency is as agriculturally based as Tipperary.

Mr. Hayes

The Minister does not know what is happening and is afraid to face up to the reality.

Mary Coughlan

That is nonsense. The Deputy obviously never went through the Gap. They are the best farmers ever so do not give me that rubbish.

Mr. Hayes

The Minister is driving them off the land.

Mr. Browne

Nonsense.

Mary Coughlan

The Deputy is wrong and I can tell him so. That is sanctimoniousness.

Mr. Naughten

I welcome the opportunity to wind up the debate.

Mary Coughlan

What do the west of Ireland boys have to say about that now?

Mr. B. Smith

It is snobbery.

Mary Coughlan

What about the cattle in Roscommon?

Mr. Naughten

I listened intently to the speeches by Government backbenchers who spoke about REPS, the single farm payment, forestry, the special beef premium overshoot, beef and sheep exports, the budget, the Finance Bill and CAP reform. None of them, however, addressed the issues in the motion.

Mary Coughlan

Of course they did.

Mr. Naughten

They are afraid that if they try to defend the Minister on the issues highlighted in the motion they will be lynched, literally, when they return to their constituencies at the weekend. There is a lack of direction in the Department of Agriculture and Food and in the Government with regard to agricultural issues. Agriculture is unlike the Government's other pet sectors, including biotechnology or information and communications technology. The Government is failing to provide strong direction on the future development of agriculture and the food industry. Sadly, that is the reality.

The Minister had it within her control to do something about labelling but nothing has been done about it.

Mr. B. Smith

That is not correct.

Mary Coughlan

That is not correct.

Mr. Naughten

One third of the total consumption of beef is now being imported from Brazil. That is a massive amount of beef from Brazil where foot and mouth disease is rampant and they do not have a tagging and traceability system.

Mary Coughlan

Does the Deputy want to scare consumers now?

Mr. Naughten

The Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith, said we have to have the issue of regionalisation in Brazil because we used it here when we had foot and mouth. The difference between Ireland and Brazil on foot and mouth is that if one animal left County Louth and went into County Monaghan the CMMS system would pick it up straight away. There is no CMMS system in Brazil, nor is there a tagging or traceability system there. Consumers in this country are shopping blindfolded as regards trying to get Irish food products. The Minister may clap herself on the back for introducing country-of-origin legislation, which I welcome, but it will only address beef. There is nothing in it about lamb, poultry or pigmeat, all of which is being abused and relabelled in this country, yet we see no action on it from the Minister.

As regards the sugar industry, one of the questions in the motion concerned clarity on the implementation of the restructuring levy and the distribution of the compensation package. The difficulty is that within the next few weeks farmers will have to decide whether they will grow beet this year. The Minister cannot provide answers.

Mary Coughlan

Because it is on 20 February.

Mr. Naughten

She cannot provide answers to either of the two questions raised in the motion in this regard. The Minister sat down at the negotiations and signed up to the deal but we have had no clarity on the restructuring levy or compensation. We do not know whether a cap will be put on the compensation available to farmers or contractors. The Minister does not know what she signed off on.

Mary Coughlan

I do know.

Mr. Naughten

She is not prepared to develop alternative uses for the beet industry.

Mary Coughlan

The Deputy should not mislead the House.

Mr. Naughten

The Minister of State talked about 160,000 litres of biofuel but how long would the Government mercs run on that? They would not get as far as the gate. It is impractical and it cannot be implemented.

As regards the nitrates directive, the Minister spoke yesterday about the farm waste management scheme and said there was €43 million available for that.

Mary Coughlan

It is €46 million.

Mr. Naughten

Not one cent of it can be drawn down at the moment because the specifications and guidelines are not there. We still do not have approval from the European Commission. Yesterday, the Minister said: "I expect that the remaining issues will be resolved shortly and that a revised scheme will be introduced at an early date." It sounded very familiar.

Mary Coughlan

Tomorrow is the answer to that, not ten years.

Mr. Naughten

Funnily enough, that is exactly what the Minister said last year.

Mr. B. Smith

That is the Government that abolished payments in the mid-1990s under the former Minister, Mr. Yates.

Mr. Naughten

The Minister lied. She has been duping Irish farmers in this regard. There is no doubt that the core principle of an approach to the implementation of the nitrates directive based on scientific evidence was shelved in favour of political expediency. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government used that avenue and the Minister for Agriculture and Food sat back and let him do so. We have 50,000 REPS plans in this country which are currently illegal.

Mary Coughlan

That is not the situation.

Mr. Naughten

Under the law they are illegal. Furthermore, from now on, if farmers in this country want to spread fertiliser, they must bring a thermometer with them because unless the ground temperature is above 6° Celsius, they are breaking the law no matter what day or month of the year.

Mary Coughlan

The Deputy cannot mislead the House. He is in no position to do so.

Mr. Naughten

We still have no indication with regard to a derogation. The Minister claims she will get a derogation within six months and I hope she does. Sadly, every other country which succeeded in getting a derogation took years to get it. If it takes years, the dairy farmers of this country will be gone along with many other intensive producers. I received an e-mail today from farmers in Newcastlewest involved in the poultry industry. They will be wiped out. They do not have resources available to them.

Mr. B. Smith

That is a misrepresentation.

Mr. Naughten

Grant aid of 40% is worthless if they do not have the resources to put the 60% with it. The Minister has been given an opportunity today. Teagasc said it is prepared to review the phosphate and nitrate tables if it is requested to do so.

Mary Coughlan

I made that request.

Mr. Naughten

Will the Minister allow scientific evidence to support this? Today, at the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dr. Seamus Cross of Teagasc said it was necessary to review the nitrates tables. Let him be given the opportunity to do that and ensure we go back to the Green Book which is seen as the good standard for farming practice in this country and which has been recognised in the European Union as the way forward for the proper protection of our environment and good farming practice. The Minister is out of touch, as is the Government. It is nine years in office and is jaded.

Mary Coughlan

Far from it.

Mr. Naughten

It does not understand the real issues facing rural Ireland and Irish farmers. On this side of the House we have no confidence in the Minister. We raised critical questions by means of our motion and she has not been able to answer them.

Mary Coughlan

The Deputy will get his answer.

Mr. Naughten

The IFA and Macra na Feirme have no confidence either in the Minister as they have withdrawn from the partnership negotiations. I commend the motion to the House.

Amendment put.

The Dáil divided: Tá, 72; Níl, 54.

Tá

• Ahern, Michael.
• Ahern, Noel.
• Andrews, Barry.
• Ardagh, Seán.
• Blaney, Niall.
• Brady, Johnny.
• Brady, Martin.
• Brennan, Seamus.
• Browne, John.
• Callanan, Joe.
• Carey, Pat.
• Carty, John.
• Cassidy, Donie.
• Collins, Michael.
• Coughlan, Mary.
• Cowen, Brian.
• Cregan, John.
• Cullen, Martin.
• Curran, John.
• Davern, Noel.
• de Valera, Síle.
• Dempsey, Noel.
• Dempsey, Tony.
• Dennehy, John.
• Devins, Jimmy.
• Ellis, John.
• Finneran, Michael.
• Fitzpatrick, Dermot.
• Fleming, Seán.
• Gallagher, Pat The Cope.
• Glennon, Jim.
• Hanafin, Mary.
• Haughey, Seán.
• Hoctor, Máire.
• Jacob, Joe.
• Keaveney, Cecilia.
• Kelleher, Billy.
• Kelly, Peter.
• Kitt, Tom.
• Lenihan, Brian.
• Lenihan, Conor.
• McDaid, James.
• McEllistrim, Thomas.
• McGuinness, John.
• Moloney, John.
• Moynihan, Donal.
• Moynihan, Michael.
• Mulcahy, Michael.
• Nolan, M.J.
• Ó Cuív, Éamon.
• Ó Fearghaíl, Seán.
• O’Connor, Charlie.
• O’Dea, Willie.
• O’Donnell, Liz.
• O’Donovan, Denis.
• O’Flynn, Noel.
• O’Keeffe, Batt.
• O’Keeffe, Ned.
• O’Malley, Fiona.
• O’Malley, Tim.
• Parlon, Tom.
• Power, Peter.
• Power, Seán.
• Sexton, Mae.
• Smith, Brendan.
• Smith, Michael.
• Treacy, Noel.
• Wallace, Dan.
• Wallace, Mary.
• Walsh, Joe.
• Wilkinson, Ollie.
• Woods, Michael.

Níl

• Allen, Bernard.
• Boyle, Dan.
• Breen, James.
• Breen, Pat.
• Broughan, Thomas P.
• Bruton, Richard.
• Burton, Joan.
• Connaughton, Paul.
• Connolly, Paudge.
• Costello, Joe.
• Cowley, Jerry.
• Crowe, Seán.
• Deasy, John.
• Deenihan, Jimmy.
• Durkan, Bernard J.
• English, Damien.
• Enright, Olwyn.
• Ferris, Martin.
• Gilmore, Eamon.
• Gormley, John.
• Hayes, Tom.
• Healy, Seamus.
• Higgins, Joe.
• Higgins, Michael D.
• Hogan, Phil.
• Howlin, Brendan.
• Kehoe, Paul.
• Lynch, Kathleen.
• McCormack, Pádraic.
• McGinley, Dinny.
• McGrath, Paul.
• McManus, Liz.
• Mitchell, Gay.
• Mitchell, Olivia.
• Murphy, Catherine.
• Murphy, Gerard.
• Naughten, Denis.
• Noonan, Michael.
• Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.
• O’Shea, Brian.
• O’Sullivan, Jan.
• Pattison, Seamus.
• Penrose, Willie.
• Perry, John.
• Rabbitte, Pat.
• Ring, Michael.
• Ryan, Eamon.
• Sargent, Trevor.
• Sherlock, Joe.
• Stagg, Emmet.
• Stanton, David.
• Timmins, Billy.
• Twomey, Liam.
• Upton, Mary.

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Kitt and Kelleher; Níl, Deputies Kehoe and Stagg.

Amendment declared carried.

Question put: "That the motion, as amended, be agreed to."

The Dáil divided by electronic means.

Mr. Kehoe

I notice the former IFA leader, Deputy Parlon, did not support farmers so, under Standing Order 69, I propose that the vote be taken by other than electronic means.

An Ceann Comhairle

As Deputy Kehoe is a Whip, under Standing Order 69 he is entitled to call a vote through the lobby.

Question again put.

The Dáil divided: Tá, 72; Níl, 51.

Tá

• Ahern, Michael.
• Ahern, Noel.
• Andrews, Barry.
• Ardagh, Seán.
• Blaney, Niall.
• Brady, Johnny.
• Brady, Martin.
• Brennan, Seamus.
• Browne, John.
• Callanan, Joe.
• Carey, Pat.
• Carty, John.
• Cassidy, Donie.
• Collins, Michael.
• Coughlan, Mary.
• Cowen, Brian.
• Cregan, John.
• Cullen, Martin.
• Curran, John.
• Davern, Noel.
• de Valera, Síle.
• Dempsey, Noel.
• Dempsey, Tony.
• Dennehy, John.
• Devins, Jimmy.
• Ellis, John.
• Finneran, Michael.
• Fitzpatrick, Dermot.
• Fleming, Seán.
• Gallagher, Pat The Cope.
• Glennon, Jim.
• Hanafin, Mary.
• Haughey, Seán.
• Hoctor, Máire.
• Jacob, Joe.
• Keaveney, Cecilia.
• Kelleher, Billy.
• Kelly, Peter.
• Kitt, Tom.
• Lenihan, Brian.
• Lenihan, Conor.
• McDaid, James.
• McEllistrim, Thomas.
• McGuinness, John.
• Moloney, John.
• Moynihan, Donal.
• Moynihan, Michael.
• Mulcahy, Michael.
• Nolan, M. J.
• Ó Cuív, Éamon.
• Ó Fearghaíl, Seán.
• O’Connor, Charlie.
• O’Dea, Willie.
• O’Donnell, Liz.
• O’Donovan, Denis.
• O’Flynn, Noel.
• O’Keeffe, Batt.
• O’Keeffe, Ned.
• O’Malley, Fiona.
• O’Malley, Tim.
• Parlon, Tom.
• Power, Peter.
• Power, Seán.
• Sexton, Mae.
• Smith, Brendan.
• Smith, Michael.
• Treacy, Noel.
• Wallace, Dan.
• Wallace, Mary.
• Walsh, Joe.
• Wilkinson, Ollie.
• Woods, Michael.

Níl

• Allen, Bernard.
• Boyle, Dan.
• Breen, James.
• Breen, Pat.
• Broughan, Thomas P.
• Bruton, Richard.
• Burton, Joan.
• Connaughton, Paul.
• Costello, Joe.
• Cowley, Jerry.
• Crowe, Seán.
• Deasy, John.
• Deenihan, Jimmy.
• Durkan, Bernard J.
• Enright, Olwyn.
• Ferris, Martin.
• Gilmore, Eamon.
• Gogarty, Paul.
• Hayes, Tom.
• Healy, Seamus.
• Higgins, Joe.
• Higgins, Michael D.
• Hogan, Phil.
• Howlin, Brendan.
• Kehoe, Paul.
• Lynch, Kathleen.
• McCormack, Pádraic.
• McGinley, Dinny.
• McGrath, Paul.
• McManus, Liz.
• Mitchell, Gay.
• Mitchell, Olivia.
• Murphy, Catherine.
• Murphy, Gerard.
• Naughten, Denis.
• Noonan, Michael.
• Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.
• O’Shea, Brian.
• O’Sullivan, Jan.
• Pattison, Seamus.
• Penrose, Willie.
• Perry, John.
• Rabbitte, Pat.
• Ring, Michael.
• Ryan, Eamon.
• Sargent, Trevor.
• Stagg, Emmet.
• Stanton, David.
• Timmins, Billy.
• Twomey, Liam.
• Upton, Mary.

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Kelleher and Kitt; Níl, Deputies Kehoe and Stagg.

Question declared carried.