Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

A matter was raised after I left the Dáil yesterday which I want to clarify, and a few more Deputies talked about it. I did not mention any name of a place and I will stand over every bit of information that I stated on Leaders' Questions yesterday. I ask the Minister to clarify that I was not the Deputy he was referring to about scaremongering. I would like that to be clarified because I will stand over everything that I said.

I go to the marts, and yesterday cattle came back €150.

While farmers were safely socially distancing, and everybody agrees with that, they were stopped because of this new online system. On the evening before, the broadband blew up in 12 marts, so they had no broadband. We are now left in a situation that at the time of year most weanlings are sold, there are no markets for them. There was an exporter in Kilkenny mart yesterday. He left the mart because he was not allowed to look at the cattle. These are the problems around the country.

I have been very blunt in outlining how we solve things. The off-licences should be closed and the pubs should be opened from 10 p.m. A garda can walk into a pub because there is legislation for that.

See this speech in context