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

The political point is that if we do not sell food from Ireland people will get it elsewhere. It is very clear to me that neither the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin or Charlie McConalogue put up any real fight to stop this. Consumers will have to get food. There are a million more people in Ireland. I hope the Government is not thinking of slaughtering some of them. I would not trust the Government if Eamon Ryan asked it to do it. The cow is the easy option.

What about the treatment plants? The Government is making no attempt in the world. This has been going on since I came up here in 2016. I and others in the House have raised this issue. There has been no difference or improvement. Kenmare is waiting. Currow and Scartaglen do not have any. Castleisland is waiting for an extension. It is an issue all over the county. Knocknagashel and Brosna do not have treatment plants. The waters are being polluted. What is the difference in polluting water from bad treatment plants? The Government has said the cattle are doing it, but I doubt that very much. Farmers are the first target.

Many young farmers will not take over farms because they cannot bear the villainisation and criticism farmers are getting. They are being blamed for the whole thing. Yet, we see what is happening in the rest of the world. No one else is doing what the Government is doing. Eamon Ryan has flown to COP or whatever.

He would want to get a bottle of cop-on somewhere because of the racket that is going on.

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