Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister seems to be kicking this issue down the road for almost two years and he does not seem to be overly concerned. This is very important to the people of the south east. The laboratory in the south east serves Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Kilkenny-Carlow, Laois, Kildare and all the surrounding counties. We have these laboratories for a reason and for best practice in agriculture. They give a badly needed service to the farmers of this country. People in Kilkenny are worried about it closing, their jobs going and the lab being taken out of commission. We are trying to clarify for once and for all how it takes two years to produce a report. That seems incredible. How long does a report have to take and how long more before it is established that this laboratory is being kept in place for future good farming practice and young farmers? The sooner I get that answer the better.

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