Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As a party we know the challenges that farmers, fishermen and rural dwellers face. Not only can agriculture deliver on food and decarbonisation objectives, we firmly believe the industry has a role to play in decarbonising other sectors of business and industry, delivering on biodiversity, nature restoration and energy security.

Farmers in ACRES are in limbo. An announcement has been made today but they have had months of craziness, with thousands of farmers still waiting for proper payment and vital information on scoring results. I have listened to the words of those in Macra and Irish Rural Link, both excellent organisations. They have told of a crisis in mental health among the farming and fishing community. The truth is that the Government has abdicated its duty to rural Ireland.

In May last, Irish Rural Link held a round-table discussion with rural young people. One young participant said he was the only one of 16 friends from school left in the town. What does the future hold for this young person with no social networks? This pattern is repeated across the State. This is why Sinn Féin wants to build a country so these young people can come back. This includes my son, who started his job in London yesterday. When I rang him last night he told me not to worry because they were all Irish there. They are all the same age as him, at 23 years of age. It is a shame that we are losing these people to other countries.

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