Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Coppinger can attack farmers all she likes but it does not behove the Opposition. I hope the Fianna Fáil Party in particular will disassociate itself from the scurrilous attacks being made on the farming community because it does not do anyone any good and it certainly does not do their case any good. Like everybody else, farmers are paying commercial water rates all their lives. Deputy Coppinger in her contribution mentioned people paying commercial rates. It is proposed to take the local government fund and leave it where it is so it will not follow the services but there will be increases in commercial rates. Who will have to pay the increases? It will be small businesses and people who are trying to rear their families, who for long enough-----

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