Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

Peddling a pig in a poke - that is incredible. Fianna Fáil supported the Aontú Bill in opposition and then went against it in government. One could not get a better definition of that turn of phrase than that.

If the Minister wants examples of where the Government is letting down farmers, he should look at the Brexit adjustment reserve fund. Aontú found out that €150 million of that fund which was meant to be focused on farmers has been diverted towards climate measures. The Government said it could not find ways to spend it in the agriculture or fishing sectors which is incredible given the state they are in. Aontú also found out that the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications reallocated €1.5 million from the just transition fund to the climate activities of the UN. Where there is money available to help farmers, it is being refocused elsewhere. That is a major issue. Farmers are being scapegoated at a time when Ministers of this Government created 180 tonnes of CO2 emissions on their St. Patrick’s Day trips. We should contrast the scapegoating of farmers on climate change with the actions of the Government on climate. I am asking for concrete evidence of steps being taken to help young farmers to become aware that there is a living to be made out of farming sufficient to raise a family.

See this speech in context