Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Like others, I raise the RTÉ documentary last night on the abuse of calves in the dairy industry. It is important to note that this is the second of this type of investigation into animal welfare issues. Previously RTÉ had the fantastic documentary on the greyhound industry, "Greyhounds Running for Their Lives". Most people were horrified by that and I do not think the numbers going to see greyhound racing have ever returned. We still have over-breeding within the greyhound industry. Dogs are over-bred and are then being sold at lower cost to the British so we are actually subsidising the British greyhound industry as well.

The programme last night, like the greyhound one, shows the value of public service broadcasting and how important it is that we invest in it and protect it into the future. I hope in this case that there will be action following on from the programme and we will not find ourselves in a similar situation as with the greyhound industry. There are still systemic problems within that industry.

On the show last night, people from the marts were saying that those filmed abusing calves needed training in animal welfare. They do not need training in animal welfare. People know how to treat animals. They know what cruelty looks like. Those people should be identified and sacked. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has promised a full inquiry into all of this. It should have known. The glut of male calves has been one of the worst kept secret in the industry. I hope there will be a robust investigation into the matter, that people will be held to account and that there will be changes to the industry going forward.