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

I do not want to pick an argument with the previous speaker, but I have to say that there is a group of people who speak up for animals every day of the week, which is our farming community. That is what they do. They do their best by their farms and their animals. They are the custodians of the farms, who inherit the farms themselves and wish to pass them on to the future generations. They do not want to do anything that would be in any way negative or bad for their animals. I compliment the farming community on changing and coming forward so much, with sheds and slurry storage. They are trying to improve their own little corner of the world and are doing a great job.

I have had the pleasure of being in Agriculture House for many years and I am thankful to every single person who works there, in every department. As previous speakers might have said, there are times when we might be arguing about payments being delayed, but overall I thank every person working in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, whether in Dublin or around the rest of the country, because they are doing a good job. I would ask that they try to make sure that payments go out in time because they are badly needed.

I am 100% committed to the future of live exports in this country. The highest standards are being applied, and anybody who thinks that animals are mistreated just because they are being carried abroad live is wrong. They have not been on board these boats or seen the conditions. People try to say that it is something that it is not. These people are in the business of exporting animals for sale. They do not want to lose animals or for animals to be mistreated. The animals are fed, watered, bedded and minded. I want to make that quite clear. We must be fair to our farming community. They are doing their level best to make a living, as if there is something wrong with that. Animals have to be reared to be killed and eaten. They do not jump from a farm onto a plate. It is obvious what has to be done.

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