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?

First, I thank Deputy Collins for his kind words and solidarity. I appreciate it. Second, he is right; anybody at the ploughing who did not hear very clearly about the tillage issue probably needs their ears cleaned out because the IFA and farmers have been very clear about it. He is correct that my colleague the Minister for agriculture was at the crisis meeting called by the IFA in Naas last week, which around 1,100 farmers attended, or at least several hundred of them. There was a very clear message. We often have debates in this House about climate versus agriculture. To be honest, I think they are silly debates, as we should not put them against each other. This is an area where they work together. Helping tillage farming also helps our climate objectives and it helps on every level. There are clear commitments in the programme for Government on financial support for the tillage sector. Obviously, specific measures are a matter for budget day. The Minister is working very hard on this. I met the IFA on this at the ploughing championships and in my own office a couple of weeks ago. We will endeavour to bring forward proposals as part of the budget.