Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On a personal level, I wish the outgoing Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, and the Minister, Deputy Coveney, the best of luck in their future. This is not personal towards the new Taoiseach but I cannot support a Government that has a Minister who has gone to Brussels and left Irish farmers relying on Italy, the Dutch, and several other countries in regard to the nature restoration law. The Government will not listen to Irish farmers. This Government is supporting the approach.

I saw in the headlines that the future Taoiseach also stated in Galway at the weekend that he has the back of rural Ireland. He drove from Galway back to Dublin in his State car. The houses of people in the Lough Funshinagh area of County Roscommon were flooded, including those of a 92-year old and an 87-year old. They are looking at water higher than their kitchens and the Government has not signed the emergency order to help those people.

This is not only a problem in Roscommon; it will be happening everywhere throughout the country. Deputy Harris spoke in Galway about having the backs of farmers. A knife has been stuck in the backs of members of the farming community right around this country. I cannot and will not support a Government that is decimating parts of rural Ireland. The thing it has done most in rural Ireland is to cause protest by not talking, not listening and not providing the services that people there require.

On a personal basis, I wish the Deputy luck. However, I cannot support the Government, especially the Green Party, in light of what is going on.

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