I join with my colleagues here today in condemning any threats to the Tánaiste and his family that he has had to put up with which, to say the least, were shocking and sickening. I hope the full rigours of the law will be applied. Independent Ireland will do anything it can on this side of the political divide to help to support him in that regard. I presume the Tánaiste was at the very successful ploughing championships in recent days, as I was. We were in our tent with Ciaran Mullooly, MEP. A huge number of tillage farmers spoke of the severe stress they are going through as prices have dropped to 1985 levels, with costs rocketing. If immediate aid of up to €250 a hectare is not forthcoming, tillage farmers will have to walk away, which will result in a further crisis down the road. A public meeting last week in Naas with the Minister for agriculture did not yield any clear indication of whether a rescue package is being brought forward by the Government. What hope can the Tánaiste give today to tillage farmers of a much-needed compensation package for them?

Sentiment score: 0.09