Seanad debates

Wednesday, 2 July 2003

Common Agricultural Policy: Statements.

 

The World Trade Organisation is driving the whole agenda. We are non-existent in terms of ranking with regard to the WTO. The package negotiated cannot be viewed as anything other than a redundancy package for so many farmers here. Members on the other side tell us not to be negative, not to talk down agriculture as there is a future. That is fine but the reality is much different. We do not have to talk down agriculture any more because farmers are gone. In some areas there may be pockets of the most profitable forms of agriculture but the west is becoming denuded of young farmers. We have part-time farmers. This is the first step out the gate, never to return. There are reasons for this.

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