The Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine might be aware that in the coming days the Revenue Commissioners will write again to struggling farmers on patronage shares and this time demand specific amounts of money. That is outrageous. I know that the Minister is acutely aware of the issue, but the Government should intervene and explain to Revenue that what it is doing is blatantly wrong.

That has nothing to do with promised legislation.

It does-----

It does not.

-----because it pertains to the section on farming and the Government's commitment to sustain family farms. This is a direct attack on family farms that Revenue is targeting in an unfair way.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Michael Creed, might comment on the matter for the Deputy.

As the Deputy is aware, Revenue is independent in terms of its interpretation of the tax laws which in the context of this specific issue have not changed. Revenue officials are due to appear before the Oireachtas finance committee this afternoon to discuss the topic.