Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have been listening to this debate in my office and in the committee room. What is baffling to me is the number of farmers from different organisations who have contacted me saying they are going to lose and that they are destroyed. I heard Mr. Coughlan say that most farmers will not be affected financially. However, farmers will be affected financially. How are they are going to be compensated for this loss? They were following all of the rules and regulations and trying to keep to the highest standards. Now, their bulls are worth nothing. That is the first point.

We should not get caught up today on the communications because it will not bring any solace. Mr. Coughlan has admitted that communications are his problem and responsibility but that is not what I want him to say. I want him to tell me how these farmers will be compensated and what roads are open to them to do that.

It is also a bit baffling that, as Mr. Doran said, the representatives of the IFA attended the meeting but could not bring in their vested interest. For God's sake, given that they are from a farmer organisation, would they not say at the meeting, although perhaps they did, that this would have an effect on farmers financially?

Did ICBF discuss that to establish if it knew before making the decision how much of an impact it would have on farmers and the industry before they made the decision or did they just accept what was given to them? I am concerned by Deputy Crowe's remarks that the validity of the science is being questioned. The witnesses talk of key issues and underlying principles but that does not matter a damn to the farmers here or listening in who are looking at their figures and saying, "We are ruined." That is what we have done and why the witnesses are here today. I am not a member of the committee but have had so many people on to me that I felt it was proper to come in here to say they have done some disservice to suckler farmers. I will not apologise for saying that. I want to hear what they will do to correct that. The first thing they need to do is suspend any decision until they have had another look at the implications, the cost and where the money will come from to deal with that decision.