Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Leader. We had a long protracted debate, and the Minister was not here. I know he is a reasonable and fair person. I thank him for the Grant Thornton report that eventually came. To give the Minister an idea of what went on, it was nearly impossible to get this report. The farmers could not even get it. We got it. We are discussing primary legislation. We are the Upper House and we had to make a case. We were told we would have it the next day, but it did not come the next day. We had to keep asking. It suggests there is a reluctance to engage with people.

As the Minister well knows, I am on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and when I played back the deliberations of that meeting, if there was anyone rigorous and tough in the questioning of the farmers, it was me. There is a subtle difference between questioning and being rigorous and fair. I raised a number of issues about the welfare of the animals. I also wanted there to be a heavy emphasis on the employees of the farmers, because they too are losing out. I thank the Minister, as the primary Minister in the Department, for coming to engage with us. As I said to the Minister of State on the previous occasion the Bill was discussed in the House, the reality is this activity is legal today. By right, those people would be preparing for a breeding programme. The Oireachtas has made no final decision. The issue is about compensation for the workers and the farmers. These farmers represent rural constituencies. I have spoken to them, and I know of their attempts to have meaningful engagement and dialogue with their public representatives, and it is very disappointing. I know there are few of them, which does not help their case. There are three farms in question here. However, we must be fair. If the Government were to take a decision tomorrow to close down turkey production, the farmers involved would rightly demand fair play and justice.

We talk about a just transition and how the Government would not be found wanting in that regard in rural communities. We also talk about sustainable communities, rural Ireland and a town centre first approach, and building up the very fabric, economy and community in rural communities. We hear all sorts of whispers that there will be this or that and these farmers will not get X, Y or Z. Even at this late stage, I beg the Minister, who is a fair man and represents a rural constituency, to sit down with these farmers. They are entrepreneurs and I admire entrepreneurs. They are risk takers and business people - everything the Government talks about supporting. They must get a decent package of compensation. It is fundamentally wrong when the Government issues a decree to close down any legitimate, legal business that is operating within the law and complying with the requirements of commercial life, paying income tax and appropriate fees.

I do not live in any of the constituencies involved and I do not know any of these individual farmers. I do not know anyone who knows any of these farmers, but in terms of the section, it is not too late. Let us be fair to people. Let us give them a decent package. All I want is the right sum. I am not setting myself up to be somebody, but I want to advocate strongly for fairness. The Minister and his officials should perhaps take this legislation away and take ten or 15 days, fewer if possible, and sit down and get some sort of consensus and be fair to the people involved but, more importantly, to their rural communities, who expect and believe they have the support of the Government for rural communities, agriculture and farming communities. It is unfair the way they have been treated and I hope it is not too late. I hope common sense will prevail. I also hope the Minister will agree to mediate or appoint a mediator to put together a fair package before he comes back to the House.