Fuel Supports to the Agricultural Sector: Statements Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-21 ============================================================ Victor Boyhan (IND), Agricultural Panel I welcome the Minister. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the Seanad Leader's Office for facilitating this additional hour of debate. It was expected to wrap up last week but a number of people did not get to speak. Thank you for facilitating that. We are talking about the response to the Government's statement in terms of the fuel and the challenges around that. At the very outset, agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fisheries and indeed the equestrian sector - we must not forget that, particularly in the heartland of the Minister's constituency he knows the significance of the equestrian sector - are under enormous pressures from fuel costs. Increases have indeed fuelled anger and frustration. In the Minister's opening lines he confirmed to us that green diesel has nearly doubled in price. That is the reality of it. Of course, the cost impacts on farmers, sustainable agriculture, food produce, which is a really important line the Minister mentioned also in his statement. It fuelled anger and frustration and we must learn from that, not demonise anybody over it. I am not suggesting anyone is doing that here. There is a learning there. There was anger and a breaking point. We have to reflect on that, learn from it and move on. I will reference the IFA's response to the Government package. I will quote the IFA's press statement of 13 April 2026. Indeed, I want to reference the Government's announcement for the new package of fuel supports published on 12 April 2026, because they are two important documents. In the IFA's response to the Government package, its president, Francie Gorman, acknowledged the package of measures announced by the Government and said they were "significant" on 13 April. It was important that the IFA made that statement. It has been vocal on many fronts during this campaign, so it was interesting to read and a very powerful line within the IFA's own message. It went on to state "there will need to be regular engagement to keep the situation under constant review to ensure the agri-sector is protected in these highly volatile times" and that the Government must focus on practical supports. The Minister and I know that the pressures on farmers, hauliers, transport operators and those with private and commercial vehicles are enormous. They are under immense pressure. We also know the importance of keeping supply chains flowing so that we do not encounter a rocket and feathers effect. That is an important point to make. The IFA is also seeking a fodder scheme and additional supports for the tillage sector, which it mentioned in its press statement. Will the Minister give some feedback on this matter, albeit maybe not today? Will he send us a memo or note on that matter? I know it is at an early stage but that is an ask. The Minister undoubtedly has to take into consideration many demands on his Department in terms of resources, but it is important to put on the record that the IFA is seeking additional support for the tillage sector and mentioned this in its press release. On 12 April, the Government announced a package of measures, which I referenced in relation to the Government Information Service's press release, as published on its website. The Government announced the "package of measures on fuel costs and to support the transport, farming and fisheries sectors." Its release also said that these measures were an important intervention and "in addition to the previously allocated ... targeted supports to assist those experiencing real and immediate financial pressure." It is important now to set out a pathway for implementation, and I say that in simple terms. We need simplification and absolute clarity, but we also need to manage people's legitimate expectation around these funds and supports. It is a moving thing. Every day we wake up there are international pressures. We have to plan for that. It is important that we have communication and realistically manage people's expectations of these supports. While I welcome them, that is an important point to make. I know that the Minister's Department has commenced intensive preparations to implement a suite of measures. The Minister has outlined some of them. Given the scale and complexity, timelines and expectations must be carefully managed to ensure efficient delivery of Government supports. Stakeholders need to be kept informed at the various stages of the schemes. In the past, schemes have not delivered what they promised. I will not repeat all of that. The Minister, many other Members here and I know that there have been difficulties in some schemes about honouring them and making full payments in a timely manner, but I hope we have learned from that. I hope we have the IT skills to administer these schemes and payments under them. That is something that the Minister will clearly be keeping under review. It is important that these various schemes are finalised as quickly as possible, rolled out and clearly communicated to the potential applicants. Communication is key here. I want to acknowledge the contribution of the Irish Rural Association, Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, ICMSA, and the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association, ICSA, who all flagged fuel hardship well in advance of the protests and called for Government supports and interventions. That is an important point. Many of those organisations tell me that they did not feel they were being listened to. They did not feel that their messages were being driven forcefully through. That is their view. Also, there are many individual farmers who are represented by no farm organisation and no representative organisation, and they, too, have valid concerns. It is critical that the Government respond now and works together. I will leave the Minister with this message. Let us have absolute clarity where we can on the supports and measures. Let us keep simplification to the fore in how we communicate these measures and how we deliver on the payment, or phased payment, of them. At the end of the day, at the very heart of all of this are sustainable and viable rural communities and, for that matter, urban communities. It is important that we recognise the importance of the private vehicle and the commercial vehicle in the greater debate. This is not rural versus urban and it should never be that, but we do know that the rural communities provide our food. They are important in the food chain, both in the internal market in Ireland, but also across the island, in Great Britain and across greater areas. The measures are welcome. They are a beginning. There has to be flexibility here because we simply do not know what is coming over the horizon. It is also important that we have a sense of caution and realism, and we must manage the expectations of those who are seeking support. I thank the Minister for his presence here today. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-04-21/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:50+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-04-21