Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Our motion called, once and for all, on the Government to declare it will not pursue a compulsory or voluntary cull of the national herd, with no introduction of caps on Irish dairy cows or beef numbers. Furthermore, it calls for a review of the process of calculating methane emissions, considering the cycle effect, and calls on the Government to provide funding to farmers for implementing greater efficiencies, embracing new technologies, and any other measures as an alternative plan to reducing the national herd. It asks that an independent comprehensive financial impact assessment be undertaken on reducing the national dairy herd, considering the impact on the farmer and the rural economy, and broken down to show the potential negative financial consequences for our country.

It also calls on the Government to cease its climate attack on farmers, who are the backbone of the agrifood sector, to prevent future generations from being driven out of the sector and compromising the sustainability of rural communities. Our motion instructs the Minister, if he can be instructed, to publicly announce a pause on discussions or considerations of a dairy or beef sector cull until a full financial impact assessment has been published, considering the views of the affected farmers. What motion did the Minister and Minister of State say there were going to accept? It is clearly not this one. They are in wonderland or Disneyland.

When I look around the Chamber ar maidin, níl aon Teachta ó Fianna Fáil, ó Fine Gael nó ón gComhaontas Glas anseo. Where are they? None of them are here. Where are they?

As for our friends on the left, who come in here and make speeches, I will take no lectures from Deputy Cairns whatsoever. I was delighted to attend the National Produce Stakes at the Clonmel racetrack last Sunday night. It was a wonderful evening in the sunshine. People were enjoying themselves and contributing to the economy with the bookmakers, bookies, restaurants and everything else. Deputy Cairns came in here one time objecting to greyhound racing and she brought a lurcher, so she knows a lot of about farmers. I rest my case and I will not take any lectures from her.

Then there is an Teachta Bríd Smith, who is also gone like snow off a ditch, and who has her dog Ben in the back of her white van outside the door. Is animal welfare aware of that? Every person who has a dog should have a herd number like the farmers do. Farmers protect their stock and treat them as well as their children and not like Deputy Smith wants to cull. I know the cull she fought for with repeal of the eighth amendment. We saw the floodgates open with the savagery of that act she ushered in and cannot get enough of. Commitments were made by Government and other parties that there would be safeguards there, but now it wants to fling them all to the wind. How can we have any faith in the Government or the phony Opposition?

I thank Deputy Kerrane who has been here since the debate began as have some other Members, but it is a sad state of affairs in a country that depends so much on agriculture that this Chamber, with guests visiting for the John F. Kennedy commemoration, has few Deputies in it. It is embarrassing. Níl aon Teachta ó aon pháirtí anseo.

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