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

The recent support for the EU nature restoration law by 11 Irish MEPs, including all representatives from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party earlier this year, has raised concerns about the future of Irish family farms.

This law, part of the European Green Deal, requires Ireland to rewet vast areas of land, which is posing a significant threat to small farmers and food security. People broke their backs and worked hard to drain land and turn brown land into green. They slaved for it. The man sitting to my left, for example, broke his leg flagging it in a drain. Many people in this Dáil might not know what that means, but I know what it means and he knows what it means.

While the motion to support this law is commendable in its environmental intentions, it lacks concrete measures to protect farmers. It fails to provide a clear plan for safeguarding farmers' livelihoods and does not mandate consultation with farmers before implementing policies that could jeopardise their livelihoods. The law offers no new financial compensation for farmers, yet it threatens their livelihoods with far-reaching consequences that have not even been explored. The EU nature restoration law will drastically alter land use and agriculture in Ireland. It demands rigorous restoration measures for drained peatlands by 2030, 2040 and 2050, posing a significant challenge for Irish farmers. The law covers various ecosystems, including wetlands, grasslands, forests, rivers and lakes, impacting on productive agricultural land in Ireland, especially in areas with extensive wetlands.

Again, the farmers of Ireland, on whom this is going to be imposed, have worked so hard for so long. They put their savings, their sweat and their broken bones into this, and now this law is being thrown at them with no thought or consideration given to them.

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