Martin Ferris (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Once again, we have a situation where beef farmers are being crucified by the actions of the people we send to represent us in Brussels. The European Commissioner, Phil Hogan, when he was a Minister, was the architect of the disastrous water charges problem which mobilised tens of thousands of people in opposition to them at the time. Now in the European Union he is one of the architects of this deal which will be a disaster for Irish beef farmers. The beef farmer is the lifeline in many of the poorest parts of rural Ireland. If the deal goes through, it will be a further nail in the coffin of a part of rural Ireland. I am fortunate to know many people involved in the beef sector in my county, particularly south Kerry, who survive because of it. Many of the people who are left there manage to survive on the little income they earn from it. I do not think the Government realises what the consequences will be if the deal goes through. The European Commissioner certainly does not realise them. It will be a huge disaster for the rural economy.

We are told reliably that in Brazil an area of rainforest, roughly the size of two football pitches, is cleared every minute. There are also human rights issues associated with this as indigenous peoples in these areas are the victims of human rights abuses. The European Union and the Government are as responsible as the people who are cutting down the forests and driving indigenous populations from their environments, many to their deaths.

I remember being at several of the European debates across the country when we were told how our veto on the deal would be protected.

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