Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to take up one of the points Deputy Fitzmaurice raised when he asked about the alignment in terms of this regulation and why it cannot be aligned with the North. I would expect to have more details on that. Were surveys carried out to see if this is possible? Have the witnesses borne in mind that it may lead to medicines being sought illegally, which will lead to animal welfare issues? Have the witnesses borne in mind that England has a good system? I cannot see how we could be very different from England. I find it hard to believe and I would like to see some reports or research on that which would show that clearly.

In terms of the points that have not been taken on board here by the representatives present, and I thank them for their presentations, any changes under this are going to lead to serious inconvenience for farmers. If something is not broken, why fix it? What is in place is working very well and farmers know their agri-merchants well. While I support the need to reduce the use of antibiotics, I just find it hard to fathom that the representatives have not thought about the job losses. We are already facing huge job losses with the pandemic and Brexit. There is employment in rural communities where there would not be anything else other than the local agri-merchant, and 3,000 jobs are at stake here. It is a system that is working well, and the witnesses say it is not going to work if we align with the North and their system.

I saw one farming organisation out today which has tens of thousands of members who are all farmers, to the best of my knowledge, and they seem to be very happy with it and are recommending we do this and align with the North, which is common sense. I do not buy the answer that was given that it cannot be done. I would like to see more research and details as to why it cannot be done or why we cannot do the same as they are doing in England. I find that incredible.

We need to take on board that it is going to be a serious inconvenience for farmers. I cannot see it being any way cheaper, and it is going to cause animal welfare issues because it will create a black market of people getting medicines across the Border. That is what is going to happen. I hope the witnesses will be constructive and fair minded about this because it is no good when we have issues. I certainly do not want to be a Deputy bringing up that we now have major issues because of regulations that were brought in.

I also hope there will be more engagement with all stakeholders. The cases being put forward are genuine and fair and are coming from farmers themselves and farm organisations which have done their homework and are listening to their members.