Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am waiting to speak on a particular section, but there was an overlap, so it is fine. I would like to make a few brief points. Like other Senators, I have been contacted by the owners and I met with them for over an hour. As the Senators alluded to, it was fairly distressing and emotional.

I would like to add a bit of fairness and a bit of context.Regardless of what views people on these farms may hold, it would seem, given the step being taken, that it is essential the farmers involved are treated fairly and respectfully by the Department. I am disappointed, having been contacted by some, that this has not been the experience so far.

As has been outlined at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine of 15 July 2021, a number of issues have been addressed. We have discussed them here. As the Minister of State alluded to regarding staff redundancy, it seems beyond belief that this could be happening. The statutory two weeks is unacceptable. There are 40 staff. To put it into context, from speaking to people and public representatives in the Kingdom today, for example, if the local primary school had not had one extra it would have lost a primary school teacher. If the people in that local electoral area will not be living in that area, it is important to point out the consequences of the loss of employment. We can all speak of reskilling, staff redundancy and the need to upskill, but surely it is vital and a priority in this House that we treat all citizens in this country equally. Certainly, that is not the case here. Across the midlands, the Minister of State will be familiar with this in respect of just transition. We are treating it on one level and seem to be treating people on another. That is not acceptable.

Where are we on the demolition costs of farms and their viability going forward? It is galling that the Minister of State speaks to family and family members today. As Senator Paul Daly alluded to, she paid €100,000 in public funds, whatever the accounts of the company are, to do the report. I am thankful that they will receive it shortly but, as was pointed out, it is more than nine months since 15 July 2021. Could the Minister of State put a timeframe on "shortly"?

From what I see, there must be dialogue. There must be consultation between the three farmers and their representatives and the Department but that is not happening. In fairness, there has been personal investment of millions of euro and they are being treated shabbily.

In the interests of fairness from my knowledge of it and from trying to learn about it in the past 48 hours, as I was not familiar with it, we need to realise a couple of things. The five-year calculation, even though the Minister of State referenced it, needs to be upped to ten years because that gives a more realistic figure. Rather than the past five years, ten years gives a better average. It is more reflective of what it should be.

Senator Doherty and other Senators raised the statutory redundancy. That is totally unacceptable. I refer to the education, the training and the upskilling. What is vital, from speaking to the three families today, is that going forward there will be significant issues relating to asbestos, demolition and the cost of demolition. What I am concerned about and what most Members in this House will be concerned about is the 40 jobs and the impact that will have on the community. It must be raised and it must be rectified.