Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join in the words of congratulations to our speakers and there is a great breadth of expertise. The work of Embrace FARM is very inspiring and I look forward to hearing what Mr. Gohery has to say because I have had the pleasure of meeting him and learning from him. He has particular issues to raise and to teach arising from his own experience. Irish Rural Link has done Trojan work, and I welcome the public representative who is combining his knowledge as a public representative with his farming background.

I have a couple of questions. It strikes me that the mentoring programme from farmer to farmer is brilliant and survivors of farm accidents can make really great teachers. There is nothing as powerful as personal testimony. I am conscious of the fact that we have different constituencies, as well as people who suffered bereavement. I have a friend in Roscommon whose brother was killed in a tragic farm accident; he was a very skilful farmer who knew the business inside out. He was a highly regarded farmer but was attacked by a newly calved heifer. The work is so unpredictable and, as has been mentioned, tragedies can happen very quickly. There is the work that must be done for those who have been bereaved and we must also consider what can assist people who have survived farm accidents.

We are very familiar with the way people can get their cars adapted when they have a disability. Is there a need for resources or potential for grant aid, for example, to enable farmers to get back behind the wheel of the tractor or whatever machinery is involved? We have heard in this session about the tremendous financial burden on people and uncertainty about banks, insurance and wills, etc. For those who survive farm accidents, is there a financial burden and what can be done to ameliorate it?

Are resources needed for the work in educating people and enabling people like the excellent young man who we heard from earlier and who has developed a board game? Is there a way for farm accident survivors to share their expertise and knowledge or tell their stories in schools, which would be important? Starting early with young people to inculcate habits of safety is important. It is like learning to wash one's hands when leaving the bathroom. It must get to the point where it is second nature, as farm accidents happen so quickly. How can we inculcate habits of safety in young people? It takes culture a long time to change. I am sure the witnesses are familiar with the Saw Doctors and a famous song called "Hay Wrap". That involves a child asking his father if he can go on top of the trailer. In recent years, Mr. Leo Moran of the Saw Doctors became so conscious of farm safety that he added a new line about not going on the trailer when bringing home the hay and that a farm is not the place to play, etc. As the witness acknowledged, it takes time for that message to get through. In developing habits of safety among young people, it is surely important to get often to the schools, and particularly rural schools. I would love to hear what the witnesses think would be needed to enable people in such work.

There is the issue of dealing with poisonous gases in slurry, and there have been positive comments in this regard. Only yesterday I spent two or three hours speaking with a friend who is involved with a local group water scheme. I met a businessman from Kerry who was talking about something similar and working on the aeration of slurry instead of having a hard crust that needs to be agitated and produces poisonous gases. I would be interested to know a little more about that project. It struck me as well that apart from the issue of farm safety, there would also be a potential reduction in nitrates, which would also be of interest to farmers. There may be a "win-win" scenario in this case. Resources are at the heart of my questions. What can be done to assist both the education process and those who have survived farm accidents?