Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

The blame game over who destroyed the sugar industry may be over but I blame the Government for its actions in recent months. I have recently spoken to a number of farmers in the beet industry. As the Minister knows, agriculture in Wexford was largely dependent on the beet industry. People there were left in the dark as to whether they would be allowed to grow beet. Many will be affected by the loss of the beet industry in Wexford — farmers, croppers, haulage firms, machinery contractors and people who have invested thousands of euro in the industry over recent years. I spoke to a beet farmer before I came into the House this evening and he said he would erect a sign on his gate before the next general election forbidding Fianna Fáil candidates from entering his farmyard, and I cannot blame him.

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