Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Farmers, farming and fishing families and everybody in rural communities are devastated this afternoon by the vote that took place in the European Parliament. I salute the two MEPs who are awake to what is going on and voted against it. A total of 20% of our land and seas will be taken out of production by 2030. Then we have the lovely word "ecosystems", which all have to be restored by 2050. Could the Minister tell me what an ecosystem is? Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Greens are lobbying and canvassing every day for the European Parliament elections. They should be ran from every door in the country because they have neglected and abused farmers and the people of rural Ireland. They will not stop until the people are hungry. The people of Dublin and other cities will be hungry. It is a shame on the Government parties. They claim to be the parties of rural Ireland. They have abandoned them, which is bad enough, but they also want to kill them off altogether. The farming community is devastated by this law. Like Deputy Whitmore, we want a debate but we want a sensible debate and try to invite the likes of her to come down to rural Ireland and see the good work farming communities are doing for sustainability and everything else.

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