Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am trying to grasp this. We have already heard about volatility in the star system. Aside from any discussion we are having here, what ICBF proposes is costing people money. How can the witnesses stand over the star rating of these animals? Surely, there is not enough information on these animals to say this is gospel. People have invested and they are losing money on the basis of it. We cannot ignore that here. Dr. Cromie is not speaking to that or to any downside. It is like a parallel universe here. Why are these people frustrated? Is Dr. Cromie saying they do not understand? Can they be spoken to properly and provided with information? It is one thing to have meetings and another to communicate and actually listen to people. These are just some thoughts which come to mind. I do not think these people are up here for no reason. I am sure they have better things to do on their farms than to be up here consistently raising these issues with us. I ask Dr. Cromie to speak to those issues and the problems which have been outlined here very clearly by those who are now sitting in the Gallery.