Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Hundreds of young and not so young farmers in the south east have invested hugely in agriculture by buying land, increasing the cow herd and investing in magnificent buildings for animal welfare. Glanbia, with a Dutch company, Royal A-Ware, is investing in a factory to make Cheddar cheese. It has gone through the county council and An Bord Pleanála planning processes but now An Taisce is on its back like a monkey. It is in the High Court for judicial review and is threatening to go to the European court. It will be disastrous for hundreds of young farmers, the farming economy and the economies of the south east if that happens. Can we not do something to stop that frivolous behaviour by An Taisce? The system the farmers are using is best practice. This is simply a case of idealistic people in An Taisce acting the maggot, which is damaging our economy and causing devastation for young farmers.

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