My question is on behalf of the farming community in Ireland. It was never worse off and I hope the new Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is aware of that. There are four main issues at present. The first is the price of milk. Never before has a community had to work for an amount below what it costs to produce a product. People are getting less than what it costs them to produce it.

Is this about the programme for Government?

Yes, the support for agriculture in that programme. Another issue is that if the blue card of an animal states that the animal moved more than four times into four different herds, one will get €50 or €60 less for that animal in the factory. This is simply because there were more than four movements for that animal. Then there is the price of fertiliser, plastic, tyres and batteries, even though oil has never been at a lower price. We were always told that the price of oil dictated the price of these items. Why is it that the costs have gone beyond the beyond? Farmers are being driven down into the ground. They are in a desperate state. They do not have a bob or a copper, and the new Minister should know that.

Those questions might be more appropriate for parliamentary questions.

The Deputy is making a good case for the farming community. As he is aware, milk prices are cyclical. The Minister is addressing that already. The movement of cattle and the number of times they are moved is an issue. Obviously, tyres, batteries, oil and everything from fan belts to hydraulics are important elements in the costs applicable to farming these days.

The cost of oil should have reduced them.

Yes-----

We cannot get into a debate on it.

-----I am aware of that, and the cost has risen slightly recently. However, these are matters for discussion under the agriculture Estimates with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.