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

I ask him that question on behalf of the IFA, the ICMSA, and the various farming organisations. On behalf of every farmer I am pleading with the Minister, the Taoiseach and the rest of the Government to wake up and realise that our farmers need to be defended. They are watching what is going on here today and they wanted to hear the Minister's views. They knew that this issue was going to be raised by Deputies Micheál Martin and McDonald, among others. They wanted to hear what the Minister had to say. What they have heard is him defending a deal that is totally and indescribably bad for our farming community. If they were worried already, they will be extremely worried now.

See this speech in context