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

Thank you, Chair, for giving me the opportunity. I am disgusted. I am disappointed. I had thought Deputy McConalogue, as a rural Minister, would do better and do more for farmers. Generally, at every turn they have been badly let down. We gave 800 years to trying to get the British out of these lands and blood was spilled on the streets outside 100 years ago to do just that. Now a UK company trading on the stock market for 160 years or more is coming in the back door and will get premiums, as I understand it, to help it with its venture. I have never seen people angrier than they are at present. Farmers are being castigated and vilified every day of the week. They cannot do this, they cannot do that. There are Luas vehicles up and down the street - and the Government is allowing this - with the full length of the trains painted with advertisements vilifying dairy products. Now there is this on top of it.

Does the Minister think that this venture and this new departure will drive up the cost of land? Does he agree that it will?