Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This Bill will have very serious implications for farmers, and especially small farmers in rural Ireland, predominantly in the west. Things are very bad as it is, and it is hard enough for people to survive and to make ends meet. The other problem is how to entice the young generation to follow in their footsteps. With what is going on now, there is no effort being made to help these farmers. We should be talking about the price of fertiliser, and what it is costing people.

It is evident that the purpose of this register is not for fun. This is Green policy. The Minister is saying that the Government is not bringing in any programme to make farmers reduce their herds, but it is doing it in another way. It is evident that in any year the Minister will restrict farmers to so much fertiliser. The Minister has not told us yet what that limit will be but this register is not for the fun of it. The Minister will tell them, and that will be the next legislation or the next part of his programme. The Minister will tell them what they will only be allowed to spread. In any year - I am a farmer too - grass growth is different. Some years one would have to put out way less fertiliser and in others one would have to put out way more because it does not work fast, it is slow to work or in the heat it will not work.

There are so many differences. At the time that farmers want grass to grow, it will not grow without fertiliser and the fertiliser often does not work. Farmers will have to reduce their stock.

There is no concern in the Government about food security. In California, we hear it costs $1 for one egg and $12 for a dozen eggs. It will not be long before that happens here because people have to reduce the number of hens they have and need a herd number to have hens. We have all of this carry-on. The Government is leaving the people behind.

As well as voting for the Healy-Raes, which we are very proud of, people in rural Ireland have voted for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and they still do, but they are being let down at the behest of the Green Party. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will pay a high price for the positions they secured by getting the Green Party to back them. The Green Party is getting everything it wanted at the expense of the people in rural Ireland. A great man, Terence O'Shea, who supplies veterinary products at Kenmare Mart will be gone with the passing of this Bill. Vets did not look for this; they have plenty to do without having more red tape and responsibility imposed on them. It will cause problems for farmers by making it harder for them to access the doses and drenches they need. They were able to do two things at the one time at the mart but now the Government is going to close down Terence O'Shea's business and other businesses. Instead of talking about the cost of fertiliser or trying to help farmers, the Government is trying to paralyse them further and drive them down into the ground, more so than has been done already.

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