Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----which would be absolute nonsense. The Government has been, and will continue to be, supportive of farmers and agriculture. There has been much opportunity for debate on the potential Mercosur deal in the past two days. We have a more immediate focus with regard to protecting the beef industry in particular through the Brexit process which, of course, is a big responsibility for me and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I can tell the Deputies that agriculture and farming are big priorities for the weeks and months ahead.

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