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

The front page of the Irish Independenttoday shows it is now evidently clear that for Irish farmers to meet reckless nitrate targets set by Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party, with the support of the Labour Party and the Social Democrats, over 200,000 cows must be culled in Ireland. The only people this is not clear to are those in Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, who will, by supporting the Green Party, wipe out many dairy and suckler farmers throughout rural Ireland. Farmers look like they will be forced to cull their herds or be fined. As this will have devastating consequences for farmers throughout the country, the Rural Independent Group wants a lengthy debate in the Dáil this week to prove to Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil how the reduction of the agricultural nitrates limit from 250 kg of nitrogen per hectare to 220 kg of nitrogen per hectare will lead to the biggest wipe-out of Irish farmers in this country. Will the Taoiseach allow this urgent debate this week?

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