Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I compliment and thank the Taoiseach for his observations yesterday on An Taisce with regard to the 100 high-end jobs and thousands of farm families. I am worried because the two Green Party Ministers of State came out and literally attacked the Taoiseach. I am worried about the comments made by the Minister, Deputy Ryan, at the launch of the OECD report on Monday with regard to removing the VAT exemptions on fertilisers and animal feeds as well as tax concessions on fuel used for farm operations. What will happen our farmers? We will end up with a crisis in agriculture such as what we have in housing if this madness is not stopped. The Taoiseach mentioned the climate change Bill. We are trying to amend it. It will have a devastating impact on rural Ireland and our ability to get food on the table. It will destroy our primary sector, which has taken us out of recession after recession. We need more reflections such as what we had yesterday. I would like to see some action taken against the Green Party Ministers of State who seem to have been picking at the Taoiseach because he was trying to get balance.

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