I concur with the Minister on the seriousness and importance of the situation. I acknowledge the fact that the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Ceann Comhairle are allowing this debate to go forward. I thank the Opposition for being here to debate this matter because this is not a case of us or the Department versus anybody else. We are all trying to ensure that we have a vibrant and strong tillage industry in this country. We want its future to be secure and we all want to work together. Like the Minister, Deputy Hey…

I thank Deputy McCarthy. Farm safety, health and well-being is a priority for this Government. The Department is implementing a range of initiatives this year on farm safety, utilising dedicated funding of €2.5 million secured in budget 2025. I was pleased to secure an increase in this dedicated funding for farm safety, health and well-being to €3 million in budget 2026. In relation to 2025 funding, I have approved funding for 40 projects following an open call for farm safety, health and well-being projects earlie…

As I said at the beginning, this Government considers farm safety of the utmost importance. I highlight that farm safety continues to be one of the most critical issues that need to be addressed on farms today. Statistics show that over the past decade, farm incidences account for almost 40% of all workplace fatalities, while accounting for only 6.1% of the working population. In addition, there are approximately 4,500 non-fatal incidents each year on Irish farms, some of which result in life-changing injuries. Ver…

I confirm that, as I said, there will be an increase in funding for safety this year to €3 million. I have been visiting schools. An agri-aware safety programme is running in our schools. It is excellent. This great work was started by our senior Minister, Deputy Heydon. He took it upon himself to focus on safety for young people, in particular. In the programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, the Government has set out its commitment to continuing to prioritise improvements in farm safety, health and we…

Forests have an important role to play in mitigating climate change by sequestering and storing greenhouse gases. This can be achieved through the expansion of our forests and the increased use of timber products. In 2020 we planted 2,234 ha, followed by 2,016 ha in 2021, 2,073 ha in 2022, 1,651 ha in 2023 and 1,573 ha in 2024, and so far this year we have planted 2,297 ha. I have personally contacted a large number of those landowners who have valid licence approvals and have not as yet planted, encouraging them t…

My Department will therefore have delivered significant growth in 2025 and will continue to build on this success. In 2025 we launched a communications plan promoting the options available to farmers and other landowners through advertising on radio and in the national press, the targeting of information through social media channels and text messages and direct engagement with farmers and landowners through local and national events such as the National Ploughing Championships. We also fund stakeholder organisatio…

Will the Deputy not acknowledge it is double the figure from last year?

Has the Deputy anything positive to say?

Thank you.

The Deputy will be glad to know I do not need to be told to be ambitious by anybody on any side of any House.

I am very glad to stand up here and support this budget. I do so on the following grounds. With regard to the VAT reduction for the hospitality sector and hairdressers, I have heard a lot of criticism by people to the effect that this is a budget for companies like McDonald's and that the VAT reduction is for them. I remind people that in the county I represent, many of our takeaway businesses and many of those fast food outlets might be under a franchise of a larger group but they are family businesses. I heard a …

I will answer that in a second-----

With regard to the VAT reduction, this is something that is most welcome in the tourism capital of the western world, which is County Kerry. We want to see that being implemented. I will be very frank and say that I would rather have seen it come into force next March rather than July, but that is an issue we will deal with again. However, when it comes to misinformation, I am very glad a man mentioned something there. The one thing I will do in life and in politics is that I will go in straight lines. I saw a pers…

If you were to listen to those people putting up things last night on YouTube, you would swear to God there was a vote. There was not. There was a vote a number of years ago. There will be no more votes until 2030, so the people who voted that way-----

I voted the way I voted a number of years ago.

I stand over that 100%.

I was not one of those over there who at one time was saying we were not going far enough quickly enough. I remember people over there saying that with regard to carbon taxes but they hate being reminded about that.

I absolutely did. I was there, and I know exactly what way I voted.

I did not go on YouTube last night telling lies.

Well, at least I have a soul.