Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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I welcome the Merchants Alliance and the other two groups to the meeting. I hear what they are asking and they are being very fair. I know Mr. O'Shea very well. He has been coming to Kenmare and providing a service at the mart for many years, as well as other places. He and his likes are appreciated by the farmers. When a farmer gets up in the morning, he will have 100 different jobs to do. It was always felt that this was a valuable service in the mart, Kenmare mart in this instance, where the farmer would go to sell a few animals and bring home the usual dose of stuff, or whatever was available. I know they have been cut back with the mastitis tubes and all of that and that is sad too. I believe there is enough there for everyone. The vets are very busy and they have enough to do. Indeed, we appreciate the vets very much because our story is that we can get a vet sooner for a cow than we can get a doctor for a patient. That is the way things have gone in rural Ireland. They have enough to do and we do not want to take from their job but at the same time, we do not want to quench the merchants. I am glad I am on this committee in this Dáil because I was a constant speaker during the last two Dáil terms but was not a member. I always came into the agriculture committee because it is very important for the people I represent. Equally, our guests are very important to the people that I represent in rural places. They know that merchants are available in Kenmare mart. Those living in Kilgarvan, Castletownbere and down to Cahersiveen are all coming up to Kenmare mart. They get what they need from Terence. I certainly will not be the one to come down on them. I feel they are providing an excellent, valuable service to the people in our localities. If Mr. O'Shea would like to ask me anything, I would be glad to respond. He has asked me about this several times before.