Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to the Barry and Blaney families. The late Deputies Barry and Blaney gave great service to this country and to public life over many years. May they rest in peace.

Senator Cullinane mentioned Waterford and the south east but I remind him that the plant is being built in County Kilkenny. Glanbia is a Kilkenny company with worldwide distribution. It is welcome news that 1,600 jobs will be created and that there will be 450 jobs in construction, which will start on 17 May. It is great to see Sinn Féin coming into the House with a positive message for a change. I compliment Glanbia and Enterprise Ireland on this major investment. Hopefully, it will have a benefit for rural Ireland, for farmers and for the people involved in small industries such as providing trucks to bring the milk to the plant.

I listened to the Opposition with its populist politics. If Senator Leyden knew anything about agriculture, he would know that the Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine is doing all he can in regard to the fodder crisis.