Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The future of rural Ireland is undeniably linked to the future of agriculture. A viable agrifood industry, be it dairy, beef, suckler, sheep or crops, is the backbone of rural Ireland. Fianna Fáil supports the Rural Independent Group motion. The past two years especially have been very difficult for farm families and rural areas. A thriving agriculture business means strong rural communities that support each other through thick and thin, through the good times and the bad. Last year farmers went through a fodder crisis and a drought, and this year it is the beef crisis. The farming sector is lurching from crisis to crisis with a reactive approach by Government instead of a proactive approach.

A compromise was reached last week that has enabled farmers to return to their farms and workers in meat processing factories to return to work. It is important now that space is given to farm organisations to advocate all aspects of the deal to their members and that Meat lndustry Ireland, MII, and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine ensure that all agreed actions are implemented promptly.

Irish farmers are being crippled by low prices, market volatility, labour shortages, bad weather, and a lack of competition in some sectors. Combined with these, stark challenges remain on the international front such as the EU-Mercosur trade deal with South America, the UK exit from the EU, and meeting our climate change responsibilities. These challenges will not be easy. A just transition is required, with Government supports, to ensure that farm families and rural areas can continue to live, thrive and work, support their communities, raise their families and make a fair living.

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