Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman. I will support the amendment proposed by Deputy Collins. This is so important. The county I represent has one of these farms, which are being adversely affected by the closure of its agricultural activity. I have seen that business grow and evolve over the years and comply with the highest of regulations and European standards. It has given employment and been very meaningful in our community, given fish farms and so on were able to work in conjunction with it. A void is now being left, as I have explained to the Minister on numerous occasions, which is why I was opposed in the first instance to this move to shut it. It is a very unusual development for farming of any nature to be shut, banned and outlawed for ever.

I too have been dealing with the farmers involved. While I appreciate very much, as the Minister will be aware, the work he and his officials are doing, on 17 November he received correspondence with regard to Second Stage of the Bill, when farmers' worries and concerns at that time related to the fact the package as proposed was slow in its delivery and it had not been made meaningful to them. Furthermore, they had concerns about the redundancy package and what was involved. We are talking away their livelihoods and talking about operations that have been built up over decades. A practice like that cannot be made to disappear overnight. There are purpose-built sheds that might have absolutely no other function in farming. They would have to be dismantled, which would involve a lot of money.

We have also to consider the livelihoods of the people who work on those farms. I personally know fine, hard-working, genuine people who have worked on them and made their careers on them. It has been their life’s work and their job. We have to bear in mind and acknowledge the enormity of what is happening here. People's way of life, the place where they pulled up their trousers and went to work every day, is being closed. We have to acknowledge that. Will the Minister please take on board what is being said here today in that regard? It is very important and farmers deserve to be treated well. Any time the Department and the Government pull the rug from underneath somebody, there has to be some sort of a net to catch them when they fall. As for the people in the Government who pushed for and insisted on this, let it be on their heads that they have done this.