Victor Boyhan: Clarity needed on fuel supports for farmers

Thank you Cathaoirleach, and first I want to welcome the Minister here and I want to thank you and the Senate, the Leader's Office for facilitating this additional hour of debate. I know it was expected to wrap up last week but a number of people couldn't get to speak so I want to thank you, thank you for facilitating that. So, I mean, here we're talking about really the response to the Government's statement, you know, in terms of the fuel and the challenges around that. I suppose, Minister, at the very outset, agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fisheries and indeed the equestrian sector, don't forget them either, particularly in the heartland of York constituency, you know the significance of the trade there, are under enormous pressures from fuel costs, increases have indeed fuelled anger and frustration. Your very opening few lines, you confirmed to us that green diesel is now nearly double in price. I mean, that is the reality of it. And so of course the cost impacts on sustainable farmers, sustainable agriculture, food produced, I think that's a really important line that you mentioned also in your statement here today. So it did fuel anger, it did fuel frustration and indeed we've got to learn from that, not demonise anybody over it, and I'm not suggesting anyone's doing that here, but I think it's important, there was a learning there, there was an anger, there was a breaking point, and we have to reflect on that, learn from that and move on. I want to reference here today the IFA's response to the government package and I want to quote here, as I reference that, the IFA's press statement of the 13th of April 2026, and indeed I want to reference the government's announcement for the new package of fuel supports published on the 12th of April 2026, because I think they're two important documents. So as I said, the IFA's response to the government package, the IFA president, Francio Gormick, acknowledged the package of measures announced by the government and said they were significant on the 13th of April. So I think that was important that the IFA made that statement. They have been vocal on many fronts in this campaign, so I thought it was interesting to read that was a very powerful line within their own message. They went on to say there will need to be regular engagement to keep the situation under constant review and ensure that the agri-sector is protected in these highly volatile times, unquote. The IFA statement went on to say that the government must focus on practical supports. Minister, you and I know that the pressure 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 we don't encounter a rocket and feathers effect, and that's an important point to make. The IFA are also seeking a further scheme and additional support for a tillage sector and they raised that in that press statement. Minister, you might give some feedback on this, maybe not today, but if you could send us a memo or a note on that, I know it's at an early stage, but that's an ask. You no doubt, you have to clearly take into consideration many demands on your department in terms of resources. But I think it's important to put on the record that the IFA are seeking additional support and mentioned this in their press release for the tillage sector. On the 12th of April 2026, the government announced a package of measures, which I referenced here in relation to the government information services press release as published on their website. So the government announced these package of measures on fuel costs and to support the transport, farming and the fishery sector. These measures are an important intervention and in addition to the previously allocated and target support to assist those experienced real and immediate financial pressures. Minister, it is important now to set out a pathway for implementation and I say that in simple terms. We need simplification and we need absolute clarity, but we also need to manage people's legitimate expectation in relation to these funds and supports. It's a moving thing. Every day we wake up, there's international pressures. We've got to plan for that. So I really think it's important communication and managing realistically people's expectation for these supports. While I welcome them, I think that's an important point to make. I know that your department has commenced intensive preparations to implement a suite of measures. You've outlined some of them now. Given the scale and the complexity, timelines and expectations, as I said, must be carefully managed to ensure efficient delivery of government supports. Stakeholders need to be kept informed at various stages of the scheme and this is really important. In the past, schemes haven't delivered what they promised, Minister, and I'm not going to repeat all of that. You and I know and many members here know there has been difficulties about honouring and the full payment in a timely manner, some schemes, but hopefully we've learned from that. Hopefully we have the IT, the information technology skills to administer these schemes and the payment of these schemes and that's something that clearly you will be keeping under review. So I think it's important that these various schemes are finalised as quickly as possible. They are rolled out. They are clearly communicated to the potential applicants. So communication is really key here, Minister. I want also, before I close, Minister, to acknowledge the contribution of the Irish Rural Association, the ICMSA. The ICSA, who all flagged fuel hardship well in advance of the protests and called for government supports and interventions and I think that's an important point. Many of those organisations tell me they didn't feel that they were being listened to. They didn't feel that the message was being driven forcefully through. That's their view. But also there are many individual farmers who are represented by no farm organisation and no representative organisation and they too have valid concerns and I think that is important. It is critically important that government respond now and work together. I leave you with this message, Minister. Let's have absolute clarity where we can on the supports, on the measures. Let's keep simplification to the fore in how we communicate these measures and how we deliver on the payment or the phased payment of them. Because at the end of the day, at the very heart of all of this is rural communities, sustainable rural communities, viable rural communities and urban communities for that matter. It's also important that we recognise the importance of the private vehicle and the commercial vehicle in this greater, bigger 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 within Ireland, across the island here in GB and across in greater areas. So look, I would say, you know, it's a welcome measures, it's a beginning. There has to be flexibility here because we simply do not know what's coming over the horizon to us. But I think it's also important we have to have a sense of caution and realism and we must, must manage the expectations of those who are seeking support. I want to thank you for your presence here today, Minister. Thank you.