Dáil debates

Wednesday, 18 January 2023

Climate Action Plan 2023: Statements

 

4:35 pm

Photo of Michael CollinsMichael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Given the Minister, Deputy Ryan’s speech earlier, he now accepts there will be a drop in numbers in the national herd, something the then Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, and others promised would never happen. It is another betrayal by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of the farmers of this country. He said also that farmers must be compensated for this drop in cattle numbers. How does he propose this when farmers in west Cork are being told they must change their practice of slurry spreading for environmental reasons? One farmer in west Cork told me this change will cost him about €14,000 and no grant will cover this. The same farmer asked me where he can find the money as he already owes the money to the bank and credit union for previous farm improvements, so he is in dire straits. The Government is going to put these ordinary, modest farmers out of business. That is the real plan, so Ireland and its farm and meat production will be the same as our fuel, which comes from the UK, in that we can bring it in from Brazil.

In November, I asked the Minister, Deputy Ryan, who went with him on this lavish trip to Egypt to the COP27 farce. It is reported that 55 people travelled with him as part of the 400 lavish jets which filled the skies with poisonous fuels. Surely a first-class business flight would have done a Minister going to Egypt and the 55 people with now-hidden identities could have joined on Zoom. They are out there, telling us to tighten our belts, while they fly, dine and wine for two weeks to best of their ability. Disclose the identity of the 55 Irish people. The taxpayers paid for this and we need to know.

I am also calling on the Minister for Transport to intervene on Dublin Bus's highly misleading and toxic advertising posters on its fleet. That this advertising imagery, which is sponsored by veganism campaigners, states that Irish agriculture is the single-worst offender in terms of greenhouse emissions is scandalous.

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