Fine Gael will propose a vote of no confidence in Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan in the Dáil tomorrow.
The party is using Dáil Private Members time to criticise the Government over its handling of the sugar industry crisis, the nitrates plan and its failure to put in place a survival plan for farming.
Fine Gael spokesman on agriculture Denis Naughten said the Minister had failed to stand up for the interests of farmers. Her tenure had started hopefully enough but had rapidly gone downhill.
"When Greencore made the disastrous and short-sighted decision to close the Carlow sugar factory, the Minister failed to act and now farmers are left high and dry without an economic price for their beet in 2006 or details on the compensation package which will be made available to them.
"Furthermore, the Minister has failed to consider any alternative use of Irish sugar beet.
"The Government has bungled the Nitrates Directive from the start and the Minister has been happy to pass the buck to the Environment Minister rather than fight to ensure it is workable for farmers," Mr Naughten said.
"In recent times the Minister has been notable only for her absence on the issue, leaving it to the Taoiseach to claim that it is "satisfactory" that part of the plan is suspended due to lack of scientific support," he added.
He said this ignored the fact that other elements of the plan were equally restrictive and had come into force with no information for farmers.
He accused the Minister of being determined to tie farmers up in red tape as she had signed into law new rules which mean only vets will be able to write all prescriptions for animal medicines from January 1st next.
"The Minister has made empty promises about protecting Irish farmers from third country imports but she has failed to introduce clear labelling laws to prevent these imports being passed off as Irish or to compel restaurants and catering establishments to clearly state country of origin on their menus or labels," he said.
"The farming sector is in jeopardy on all fronts and the Minister cannot continue to pretend all is well in Irish farming." He said she had to "fulfil her responsibility to the viability of Irish farmers".