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

Today was very important as county executive members of the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, from all over the country were here to give an emergency presentation to all Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas. Tomorrow, buses will carry people from the beef sector travelling from all over the country to protest here and highlight that it will be impossible for beef farmers to make money after this is implemented. It will be impossible for a person to survive with a suckler herd. On Thursday, the hill men and women will be here to explain their case across the road in Buswell's Hotel.

There are farmers from all sectors of society coming to Dublin to make their case to us as politicians about why they see this as a bad deal. The members of the IFA and I want to see Deputy Ferris's party's motion being voted on tomorrow night. They want to see us as politicians coming together in the House to support the Sinn Féin motion and clearly stating that we reject the deal. They want us to say it is not a good deal for Ireland or our farmers if it is going to hurt such an important sector, our cornerstone of agriculture in Ireland. We will ask Fianna Fáil, as well as all the other Members elected to represent our farmers, to support the Sinn Féin motion. It is vital.

I know the farmers from my county will be looking to see who will support Deputy Ferris's motion and who will reject it to support Commissioner Phil Hogan on his reappointment in Europe. Good luck to him and I am delighted for him but it is a pity about the farmers he is supposed to be representing. Is it not funny how people forget their roots and where they come from when they get into high office? It is a disgrace. The IFA called this a sell-out and it is right. I do not want to eat into my colleagues' time.

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