Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We in the Rural Independents are very concerned when we see advertisements from Go Vegan World on Dublin Bus and Galway city buses. This is a rural country, after all. The misleading advertisements are damaging to what has been good farming practice and husbandry over decades, and to our food chain, food supply and thousands of jobs. Who allowed for these? We are told it lies with Dublin Bus. Is the Minister for Transport or National Transport Authority responsible? Where is this craziness going to stop? Who is paying for these advertisements? Is it some of the well-funded NGOs, which are costing us nearly €6 billion per year? This attack on rural Ireland, our way of life and our primary industry, agriculture, has to be stopped. We must not have false information spread maliciously, as is happening. I salute Deputy Nolan for raising this here and indeed Councillor Geraldine Donohue from Galway for raising it. It must stop. We must find out where it came from. Fair play is fine play with us, but this kind of carry-on, demonising farmers and good animal husbandry, is not acceptable. We need a debate on it.

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