Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The president of Macra na Feirme has written to every Member of the Oireachtas. Its members' two days of action are based on what they have asked for. Their action is grounded in a desire for young people to have a vibrant and prosperous future in rural Ireland. We love rural Ireland, we want to live in rural Ireland and we want our children to have a future in rural Ireland and in rural communities. That is what they want. They do not want quotes from the recent census. They want the Taoiseach to meet them. The Taoiseach either agrees with what they are saying or he does not. With the flight of the Taoiseach's lieutenants from rural Ireland - they are hanging up their boots - I do not think he has much confidence in rural Ireland either. Macra na Feirme is a vibrant organisation that has done wonderful work over the last 79 years and they have walked 79 km from Athy to commemorate that. They are being demonised, as farmers in general are, for everything. We look at the unjust transition that happened in the midlands and the bogs. They are looking at this as well. They see farmers being demonised, blaggarded and blamed for everything. They want to play their part regarding climate change, but they want a secure future and not to be banished to hell or to Connacht.

See this speech in context