Carol Nolan Demands Date for Fair Deal Reform After Four Years

Deputy Carol Nolan, Teachta Dail Eireann, Oireachta Ciancourle, Taoiseach, in 2017 the Rural Independent Group brought forward a motion calling on the Government to honour the commitment in the Programme for Government to reform the Fair Deal scheme by removing discrimination against small businesses and farming families and to introduce a reduced charge on the farm or business assets. The purpose of this motion was to remove the uncertainty for farm families and indeed for the self-employed and to protect the future viability of the farm or business assets for future generations. Since that date, almost four years ago, there have been endless and empty commitments made regarding the introduction of very urgent legislation to ensure that these reforms happen. Not a single one of these commitments has materialised to date and farming families and small business owners are being led up the garden path. Among the most recent of these commitments was a commitment from yourself in the Dáil here last summer. You said at that time that legislation would be brought forward in the autumn session around September 2020. I followed up with this continuously and I followed up in July and again in September of last year. I was told at that point by the Tánaiste that the legislation would be brought before the Dáil before Christmas. Since then, nothing has been done. There is delay after delay. It is unacceptable and it is causing a huge amount of worry and distress for farming families and small business owners. In fact, within the last few days I have received a reply to a PQ from the Minister for Health who tells me that he has met the Attorney General to discuss this very issue. But yet, no date or no time frame is being set and people are being left high and dry. And yet again, it is a disconnect between rural Ireland and urban Ireland and this Government who does not stand over commitments that they make to rural Ireland. While there is ongoing and active engagement, it is just not enough. These reforms need to see the light of day. They need to be done urgently. And I would stress that with you here today, Taoiseach. As I said earlier, it is almost four years ago since commitments were being made. And it is for that reason that you can perhaps understand that there are suspicions among people. People think that maybe there is a legal roadblock or a financial roadblock. And I think what is needed here today is honesty. We need to let people know what is happening so that they can plan accordingly. And we need to also set a date. I would like to ask you specifically if there are obstacles and to identify what they may be. Taoiseach, I am sure you can appreciate the repeated failure to actually bring forward this legislation is creating a frustrating level of uncertainty for farming families to endure as well as small businesses. Particularly as it was the recognised inequalities within the current system that drove the need for these reforms in the first place. But four years later is too long. And I just appeal to you again to make sure that a date is set and make sure that these reforms do happen and that you honour the commitments made and indeed the commitment in the program for Government. Thank you Deputy Taoiseach. Well first of all I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue. And since the Government was formed in the program for Government there is a very clear commitment to the introduction of this fair deal legislation. Particularly in so far as it impacts on family farms and indeed small businesses as well. And the Government is disposed to bringing this legislation in. It is on the priority list in terms of the legislative priority list for drafting. And the drafting has been finalised. And I am being informed that it will be possible to bring this before the Doyle, before the summer recess. I will go back and double-check that with the Parliamentary Draftsmen and the Attorney General's Office and the Minister. But I am as determined to get this legislation passed as anybody. Obviously we want to get it right as well. And my understanding in previous years what delayed it coming in was issues around the precise nature of the legislation and what it would include and what it would not include. And so as far as we are concerned we are giving this priority. It needs to happen. And we are committed to making sure that it will happen. Deputy. Thank you Taoiseach. Thank you for that response. I welcome the fact that it is on the priority list. But I just feel that at this point when people are in a more financial precarious situation. As in the farmers and indeed the small businesses than they were in 2017. I do feel that there is a need to provide a date. We need a solid date provided at this point. Because we have waited far too long. I also want to point out to you that farming families are under tremendous pressure. Between Brexit and everything else that has impacted upon them. So they are struggling to pay bills for loved ones in nursing homes. And we do need to make sure that they are provided with a date at this stage. Because for too long and I know myself and my rural independent colleagues have brought this up. And we are hearing autumn recess, summer recess before Christmas. And the people as well out there are hearing the same thing. So it is not good enough. We feel that a date must be provided. People are under huge financial pressure. I know farming families are also under pressure. With new regulations that are coming in. In regard to the prescribing of animal medicines. And I call on your government to indeed rectify that. And make sure that you listen to the agri merchants. And that the farming families are not expected to carry that burden. As well as the current burden that they carry. Because of the delay with the reforms to the fair deal. Thank you very much Deputy Nooran Taoiseach to conclude on this matter. I would accept that the basic principle of what the Deputy is articulating. In respect of the need to bring this legislation in. And particularly in terms of its impact. According to the ongoing situation. And the negative impact that has on family farms. And farming is under pressure. Because of Brexit. And Covid. And a general economy is. The government has introduced unprecedented interventions in the economy. To support incomes. And to support business. Across the board. Quite unprecedented. And the legislation is detailed. Considerable work has been done on the legislation. It has to be said. And I will revert back to the Deputy in relation to it. In terms of the timelines. For its introduction. But we do want to have it published. And introduced into the House. Before the summer recess. Certainly after Easter. To have it published. And introduced into the House. Before the summer recess. Certainly after Easter.