Carol Nolan
Offaly · Independent · Ireland
“Despite this, her mother - who is utterly heartbroken and distressed as we can all imagine - is fiercely protective of her child and determined to protect her at all costs.”
“It is a form of cruelty beyond all description to force families to endure circumstances such as these. Many of us in this House are parents. What would we not do to help our teenage children? What is happening in Offaly is not an isolated case. I know there are cases around the country as well.”
“The Tánaiste will share my profound horror at the recent brutal murder of Jamey Carney, the absconding of her so-called partner to Jordan and the wider pattern of escalating violence against women that was raised earlier.”
“The schools are out, summer is well and truly upon us, and for most families this will be an opportunity to enjoy spending time with their children or grandchildren. Others will watch the kids being able to spend more time with their friends.”
“I thank the Tánaiste for his response and assistance. I directly informed the HSE about this situation, and I received an acknowledgement, but I will reach out to the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and, with the consent of the parent, will pass on all details.”
“Will he therefore commit to a review of the relevant legislative and operational frameworks to ensure that, regardless of current statutory provisions, no chilling effect is being caused or created that might discourage or inhibit the reporting or public identification of suspects who are also international protection applicants, where su…”
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“This risks being yet another exercise in performative consultation while rural Ireland continues to pay the price for the previous Government's failure to deliver. Launched in March 2021, the last rural development policy was full of grand promises of a thriving countryside, digital connectivity for all, revitalised towns and villages, enhanced public services and active support for a vibrant, sustainable agricultural sector. The policy has, instead, presided over a period of managed decline. High speed broadband remains patchy in far too many rural areas. Housing provision in rural communities has been strangled by planning restrictions. Only last night I attended a cost-of-living meeting in Cloghan which took place after the fuel protests.”
“While the One Europe, One Market agenda is presented as a pathway to prosperity, it must be judged by its effects on Irish agriculture, the families bearing the cost of the energy transition and the allocation of taxpayers' public resources. Ireland's national interests require that we defend our farming sector, scrutinise the true cost of net-zero policies and ensure that international spending does not come at the expense of our own domestic priorities.”
“The EU-driven net-zero agenda with its binding 2030 targets and emissions transfer mechanisms continues to impose significant additional costs on households, farms and enterprises through higher fuel, heating and production expenses. The carbon tax suspension does not alter Ireland's commitment to that agenda. It merely delays the full impact while the structural costs remain. This illustrates the broader tension of an ideological commitment to rapid decarbonisation that is not logical, fair or balanced. In practice, this delivers higher living costs without delivering the energy security or competitiveness that the Council seeks.”
“Irish families and businesses are entitled to expect that their elected representatives will balance international commitments with the immediate needs of its own citizens. I know from speaking to many agricultural contractors that they still need continued support. They are constantly contributing to our economy and as taxpayers, they should get fair play as should our small businesses and our haulage companies, which will also need continued support. Finally the Council's call for an accelerated low-carbon transition must be examined in the light of recent domestic developments. The Government has announced a suspension or partial suspension of the carbon tax in response to public fury over rising fuel costs. I have consistently opposed the carbon tax.”
“However, when thousands of Irish and European farmers raise legitimate evidence-based concerns about the impact of Mercosur on food production, rural economies and environmental standards, these concerns are set aside and the institutions proceed regardless. Such an approach erodes public trust and contradicts the very principles of citizen engagement that the Council claims to uphold. A similar pattern is evident in the Council's reaffirmation of unwavering support for Ukraine, including continued financial, economic and military assistance. Ireland has already committed hundreds of millions of euros in taxpayers' money to this effort. We must acknowledge the scale of this expenditure at a time when domestic pressures ranging from hospital waiting lists to rural infrastructure deficits remain acute.”
“While the Council speaks of competitiveness and simplification, the European Commission continues to advance the Mercosur trade agreement towards provisional application from 1 May. Ireland voted against this deal in the Council precisely because it will expose our family farms to a flood of lower-standard beef, sugar and agricultural imports from South America. This directly threatens the viability of farming enterprises in my own county of Offaly and indeed across the midlands and the rest of this State. It undermines the very producers the EU claims to support through its Single Market strategy. This disconnect is particularly striking given the Council's emphasis on strengthening Europe's democratic resilience. The conclusions rightly highlight the need to protect democratic discourse and counter disinformation.”
“On 19 March, the European Council adopted conclusions that included the formal launch of the One Europe, One Market agenda. According to the official document, this initiative is designed to boost EU competitiveness, strategic autonomy, economic security and prosperity while preserving the European social model. The priorities set out are ambitious - deepening the four freedoms, removing internal barriers, simplifying rules, improving the recognition of professional qualifications and strengthening consumer and product safeguards. On energy, the conclusions call for an accelerated transition to renewables and low-carbon sources to reduce price volatility. These objectives may appear constructive yet for Irish agriculture, the reality on the ground tells a completely different story.”
“I acknowledge that Ireland has built one of the most dedicated SNA schemes in the European Union. We are supporting over 23,000 SNAs in the current school year. However, the fact remains that demand continues to outpace supply. The rising diagnosis of autism, ADHD and complex needs have placed unprecedented pressure on the system. We also see that in the massive numbers struggling to access the children's disability network teams. I see that first hand in my constituency of Offaly. It has been a problem for years. It is unfair that parents have to fight all the time and battle for vital access to basic services. The recent NCSE allocation review, although paused, and the additional €19 million in funding, exposed the limitations of an outdated care needs criteria.”
“I support the motion, particularly its call to establish a time-bound school building task force with a mandate to ensure priority delivery of special schools, and indeed, special classes. As a former school principal and teacher with a masters degree in inclusive and special education, I fully recognise, and I have seen first hand, the invaluable and indispensable role that SNAs play in our schools throughout this State, particularly in preparing children in enabling them to access mainstream education, supporting them to thrive alongside their peers and dealing with their care needs and well-being. It is absolutely invaluable. Our SNAs are vital in our mainstream primary schools. They deserve to be respected and recognised for the great work they do.”
“Will the Taoiseach confirm that additional staff will be allocated to the Department of agriculture to ensure that these payments will be made in a timely manner?”
“Having spoken to many farmers, there is deep scepticism about the Department of agriculture's capacity to deliver timely payments under the Government's €100 million fuel subsidy support scheme for farmers, agricultural contractors and fishermen and fisherwomen. The reason there is scepticism is that there were significant delays in payments under the agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, which left many farm families waiting months. I have seen one family left waiting a number of years for an ACRES payment. Obviously, this money was promised and they had budgeted for it. It was not an isolated incident. Farmers have had long experience, unfortunately, of the Department announcing schemes with great fanfare only for there to then be delays and chaos.”
“I ask the Taoiseach to please adopt a common-sense, practical and logical approach because the real impact is not addressing this issue. I feel that we have to allow peat extraction. We have to allow it and we also have to be fair with people in terms of this issue.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Thaoisigh. I thank the Taoiseach for his response but I feel that a more practical common-sense approach is now needed. The real impact of this ban on the commercial sales of turf is people being cold in their homes. Older people have the ranges and they depend on fossil fuels like turf. When we look at the emissions, we are talking about imports coming in from Baltic states here, which is causing environmental issues. We are talking about a small number of people who want to extract peat and we are talking about our horticultural sector. In Offaly, we have lost too much already. We bore the brunt of the unjust transition, as I would call it. We really bore the brunt of that. We cannot afford to lose one more job, be it in the horticultural sector or any other sector.”
“Will he work with me and, indeed, the small peat producers to introduce a practical, fair and legally robust framework for sub-30 ha operations, including the reintroduction of targeted exemptions so that we can maintain a sustainable domestic peat supply that protects both our environment and the future of Irish horticulture and food production?”
“As a direct result, most of the remaining domestic suppliers will be pushed over the planning and licensing thresholds and forced to close. This is catastrophic for Irish horticulture. The horticultural sector depends on these small producers for peat. Without them, domestic supply will collapse. Growers will be forced to rely on imported peat that is of inferior quality and it will cost approximately double the price because of transport and supply constraints. That threatens jobs, raises food prices and undermines the viability of Irish food production. Enough is enough. Will the Taoiseach immediately suspend the ban on the commercial sale, advertising and retail of turf so that rural households can access affordable fuel this winter?”
“Former Minister Charlie McConalogue previously outlined that 32,000 tonnes of peat were imported into this country in 2022 and, staggeringly, over 30,000 tonnes of this came from Northern Ireland. Therefore, we can ship in peat from the Baltic states and from counties around Belfast, but people cannot buy it from a shop in Banagher or, indeed, sell it. Instead, we criminalise the sale of our own domestic resource. This is economic madness. The contradiction does not stop there. The recently enacted Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 and, in particular, the changes to section 99 have made the situation even worse. As I understand it, by expanding regulation to cover past and potential activity, small-scale peat producers operating under 30 ha are now being reclassified as part of larger historic bog areas.”
“Despite the fact that we are in the middle of a crippling fuel crisis where energy prices remain the highest in the EU, this Government continues to enforce a ban on the commercial sale of turf - our own natural, affordable fuel. As I said recently in my own constituency, there is no better time to reverse this ban. Rural communities in County Offaly and, indeed, across the midlands have relied on turf for generations. It is not just fuel; it is part of our culture and our heritage and for many families, it is the only realistic way to stay warm this winter. The current policy is absurd and self-defeating. We are importing thousands of tonnes of peat and briquettes into this country every year, while at the same time banning Irish people from buying turf.”
“Why was the Taoiseach not out in Cork meeting his constituents? That would have been true leadership. I am absolutely appalled. I am here to stand up and serve my constituents in Offaly. This is certainly something that will never be forgotten. The Government will reap the benefit at the ballot box.”
“Yet we have Irish people kicking, begging and screaming. People are in my offices every day of the week at absolute breaking point. I am ashamed of what the Government has done. I am glad to say I am not part of it. It has gone in the wrong direction entirely. It is squandering money where it should not be squandered. Let us look at the children's hospital, overseas aid or the asylum system where we have unvetted migrants coming into the country all the time. That is fact. The Government is squandering money. It needs to stop. The Government needs to stand up for the hardworking Irish people, the farmers, hauliers, agricultural contractors and small businesses. They should not have to come kicking and screaming for money. The Government needs to listen to them. Why was the Government not out meeting them?”
“At the fuel protests in Offaly, I was delighted to stand with my constituents, hard-working, decent people who have worked hard and are very frustrated. I met groups in Birr, Tullamore and Cloghan. Many self-employed people told me they just cannot keep going. Only today, I met a young businessperson who told me his business will be gone next week. This is shameful. The Government has neglected the working people of this country and squandered Irish taxpayers' money. When they want some of their own money back, they have to come, kicking, begging and screaming, for their own money and for assistance. What the Government has done is disgraceful. I do not understand it. We know that billions are being thrown at the asylum system. We know that €840 million went out in overseas aid. That was highlighted in budget 2026. It is disgraceful.”
“Deputy McGrath has never wavered in that support and today the House should acknowledge his work on behalf of the victims. Justice delayed is justice denied. The families of Omagh have waited long enough. I support the passage of this Bill but I urge the Minister to ensure it is implemented without any further delays or foot dragging.”
“Even after the UK inquiry was established in February 2024 and Ireland gave its commitment in July 2024, it has taken until 2026 to bring forward this Bill. I want to take this opportunity to pay special tribute to my colleague and friend, Deputy Mattie McGrath, who is very vocal on this issue. Since 2013, Mattie has stood shoulder to shoulder with the Omagh families. He organised a delegation from the Omagh victims support group to brief Members of the Oireachtas on 1 May 2013. Just days later, on 8 May, he stood in this House during Leaders' Questions and called directly on the Taoiseach for a cross-Border public inquiry. He spoke of the courage of Michael Gallagher, who lost his 21-year-old son Aiden, and of all the families who have fought so bravely for truth and justice.”
“I welcome this Bill. It is certainly a long and overdue step that will allow Irish State bodies, serving and former members of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces, civil servants and even former Ministers to give oral evidence before a High Court judge to assist the Omagh bombing inquiry. However, I want to be clear that this legislation arrives almost 28 years after the horror of August 1998 when 29 people, including a woman who was nine months pregnant and her unborn twins, were murdered in Omagh. For nearly three decades successive Governments made up of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Labour Party and the Green Party have failed those families, with delay after delay, broken promises and a shocking lack of political urgency.”
“How on earth are we still here, almost a decade on from 2017, when I initially raised these questions? Is it incompetence or indifference? Is it just the cruel and unpalatable fact that the State is simply mired in dysfunction when it comes to addressing issues of this kind of complexity? We should be embarrassed and the pain and distress this has caused to so many families throughout the State is absolutely scandalous. We have to get to grips with this quickly. We have to instil confidence in services. People no longer have confidence because they have been treated so badly. Unfortunately, children have suffered.”
“The pain that children and their families endure is being compounded by a deep sense of betrayal and abandonment by successive Governments. The scoliosis waiting list action plan 2017 was jointly developed by the HSE and children's hospital group and has failed to deliver, despite the fact that as part of the proposal to address the spinal fusion waiting list a number of children were identified as being clinically appropriate to have their scoliosis surgery in other hospitals, such as the Mater, Cappagh and Temple Street. I would like to know how many additional nurses and consultants have started in the service since then. Without them, we cannot have the increase in theatre capacity we so badly need. How can the Government and Children's Health Ireland keep getting this issue so wrong?”
“I have raised the issue of scoliosis since at least April 2017, when I initially submitted parliamentary questions to the then Minister for Health and now Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Harris. At that time, I asked for details of the current waiting lists for children with scoliosis, the number of children on the waiting list for treatment and the steps that the then Minister was taking to ensure scoliosis patients received treatment in a timely manner. I was told that improvements in scoliosis services were a priority for the Government and HSE and that steps were being taken to bring Ireland into line with the waiting times of the NHS in the UK. We all know what has happened to that commitment and those priorities. Since then, the situation has become immeasurably worse.”
“Ireland currently invests €11,000 annually per post office, but Belgium invests five times that amount while Italy invests 3.4 times that amount. There is a need for further investment.”
“If we were to see more incentives, we would see more people willing to take on a post office in a community, to keep it there and open. That is important. The facts I want to point out, and about which I am concerned, are that since 2020, the post office network has absorbed a cost-of-living crisis marked by 15% inflation, a 30% increase in the minimum wage and a sharp decline in transaction-based income. That certainly justifies the need for more incentives. At the same time, post offices remain ineligible for many business supports that are accessible to comparable local enterprises. They are unable to increase their prices due to their contract requirements with An Post, placing them in a uniquely exposed position.”
“Our post office network is absolutely vital, particularly in rural communities. I come from the constituency of Offaly, a rural county, and the post office network is vital. What we are seeing is that there are not enough incentives for people to take on post offices. I saw that in my own community where a post office was lost because there were not enough incentives for a person to take it on. A person would have to lease a premises and so forth. It is something that certainly works in Ireland. It is certainly something that we need to invest in more. We need incentives and a broader range of services. The services have been very slow to be incorporated into our postal service. If more services were being offered at our post offices, it would increase footfall.”
“I raise the issue of hedge cutting. I call on the Government to intervene urgently to ensure that the hedge cutting period is extended as soon as possible. I have received a number of calls from agri contractors and farming families who are very concerned. Because of the unprecedented rainfall, things are behind and that is the way it is. In the interests of safety, we should definitely prioritise this. The Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland has proposed an extension to 17 March, which I feel is reasonable. It represents 1,200 contractors throughout this country. I am asking for the extension of the hedge cutting period to 17 March.”
“My constituents are also of the view that as currently drafted, the deemed disposal rule is contributing to a hoarding of property by ensuring that people keep what capital they have firmly locked into residential property. This keeps houses off the market and contributes to pent-up demand and inflated rents. I am asking the Government to perform some basic joined-up thinking on this issue. If we are serious about tackling the housing crisis, we must get under the taxation bonnet and properly assess what aspects of the taxation regime can be changed to facilitate greater supply while also allowing people to maximise their investments and returns. By that I mean private Irish citizens who have contributed to this economy, paid taxes and worked hard. They deserve respect and fair play.”
“This backlog has escalated dramatically in the past few years, potentially impacting property transactions, agricultural transactions, conveyancing and housing market efficiency across Ireland. This highlights the urgency of ongoing efforts to clear applications and prevent further escalation and delays. I was also able to establish, through another series of parliamentary questions in the past few weeks, that the so-called deemed disposal rule is adversely impacting housing. I know the Business Post carried an article on the issue last week. I placed the questions primarily because the issue was raised with me by a number of concerned constituents who feel that the current rules are overly complex and out of kilter with other EU member states.”
“If the Government is serious about making progress, it needs to ensure that Tailte Éireann is doing its job. From what I can see, it is failing. Indeed, the data provided to me confirms a rapid and exponential build-up in property registration delays in recent years, with the 2025 figure alone showing over 57,000 applications still pending from that year's lodgements. Surely this can be called out. Surely the Government Ministers can get a grip on that as soon as possible. The total arrears across all years now exceeds 90,000, highlighting a massive accumulation that has built up despite efforts to address it. This data underscores the overwhelming scale of the challenge. Applications have grown, year on year, outpacing earlier resourcing and leading to this backlog.”
“We can see cases at the individual level and it is only when we see those cases that we can truly gauge the ineffectiveness of the so-called reforms and the harm that continues to be done to families. I am continuing to deal with a constituent who through no fault or desire of his own was forced to sell his home. He did so because he is now locked in a battle to get planning permission for another home as he already made use of the rule allowing a build if you have a local connection. I established, through a series of parliamentary questions last month, that there are massive delays in the registration process within Tailte Éireann. I have repeatedly contacted Tailte Éireann. It is not acceptable. The organisation is totally ineffective and needs to be overhauled quickly.”
“If that is not from the left-wing playbook, I do not know what is. The Government is certainly making a bad situation worse. I am calling for those laws to be reviewed. I have met many property owners who have told me that they were Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil voters but are disgusted with this behaviour and the way they are being treated. I call for those laws to be reversed. I have repeatedly spoken of my concerns around the laws and the growing fear that while in theory safeguards may be in place, in practice, the cure may be worse than the disease. Perhaps if the Government were to hit the top and the vulture funds instead of small property owners, it might make more sense and we might get more solutions and progress. Perhaps that would be the way to proceed. All of that, of course, is at the macro level.”
“They were all people who worked hard, contributed to our economy, paid their taxes and decided to buy a small property, which they rented. I know from my own constituency that in many cases, the arrangement with their tenants worked quite well. I am now hearing from tenants who are coming to me in floods of tears that landlords are forced to sell because of the Government's genius new laws. I condemn those laws because the Government is making a bad situation worse. It shows that Government parties are shifting further to the left. In fact, they are becoming more left than the left themselves. The Government has absolutely no right to dictate to citizens of this country what they should do with their own private assets that they worked hard for, bought and paid for. The Government has absolutely no such right.”
“As the Minister is aware, data from the latest homeless quarterly progress report on the scale of homelessness clearly shows there were 16,734 individuals accessing emergency accommodation at the end of quarter 4 of 2025. This was an increase of 120 individuals on the position at the end of quarter 3 of 2025. There was an increase of 1,870 on the total recorded at the end of quarter 4 of 2024. There were 2,478 families accessing emergency accommodation at the end of quarter 4 of 2025, which was an increase of 35 families on the position at the end of quarter 3 of 2025 and an increase of 386 families on the total recorded at the end of quarter 4 of 2024. On top of all of this chaos, we now have new residential tenancy rules and the mass exodus of many small landlords from the housing system. I have met many of these small property owners.”
“Small businesses are trying to operate on thin margins while being bound within an energy-cost straitjacket that is making it harder and harder to sustain financial viability. I am concerned about rural jobs in my own constituency of Offaly. We must do everything we can to protect jobs.”
“The Minister mentioned tax credits. While the energy tax credits were welcome, they let the energy companies off the hook. I called for the energy companies to be brought in here a number of times. The profiteering was scandalous. We were seeing businesses really grappling with costs. A long-term solution is needed. I hope this task force will produce proper practical solutions to get to grips with this issue once and for all and to send a message to the energy companies that their ongoing profiteering is not acceptable. Government needs to send that message. A report on wind energy was published this week. It stated that energy generation costs for the State are over €1.5 billion. Again, where are households and businesses seeing the benefits of this trickling down?”
“This is why I can only agree with ISME on its statement that "the survey findings underline the need for Government to focus on structural cost competitiveness in 2026, rather than layering additional obligations onto small businesses already operating on tight margins." The profiteering that has gone on is simply scandalous. Perhaps we need to adopt the equivalent of the unfair trading practices directive and the approach of the Agri-Food Regulator so that we can see exactly how these obscene energy prices are calculated and why Irish consumers and businesses are so slow to see any meaningful reduction in their energy bills when wholesale gas prices reduce.”
“I thank the Minister for his response. The fact is that, while some supports were given to small businesses and consumers in general, to date, very little has been achieved in tackling the source of the great energy price rip-off that continues day in and day out for households and small businesses, many of which in my constituency have closed due to energy costs. The capacity to absorb these energy costs is just not there, as ISME has identified. The costs impact everyone from the owners of pubs and retail stores to the hairdressers and the farmers.”
“Will the Minister provide an update on the work of the national energy affordability task force? The Irish SME Association, ISME, has published the results of its latest members' survey, identifying the priority issues facing SMEs this year and showing that business costs overwhelmingly dominate their concerns. Some 78% of respondents said that these concerns include energy and other overheads, all of which ISME rightly notes have been subject to sustained and significant inflation in recent years. Alarmingly, ISME also notes that despite easing inflation in some areas of the wider economy, these structural business costs have not moderated. What is the Government doing to address this issue for consumers and small businesses in Offaly?”
“It helps children with special needs to achieve their potential and it supports them. We must ensure SNAs are listened to, respected and given certainty and clarity. Those are the basics.”
“It certainly cannot come from either of those pots. Indeed, when it comes to children's needs in this State, it seems there is a perpetual state of crisis. We need only mention the blight of child homelessness, the children's disability network teams in Offaly and elsewhere which are grossly understaffed, the CAMHS scandal of overmedicated children, and the school meals programme that is handing out poor quality and mislabelled food. This SNA fiasco is just the latest in a long line of issues where the State is actively failing our children. Trust has been shattered on this issue and it will take more than a severe U-turn, one that could have given Government Ministers whiplash, to repair that trust. As a former principal and teacher, I see how invaluable the work our SNAs do is.”
“Whatever a Government may say and whatever it may have done in the past few days to try to stem the tide of parental fury on this issue, there is no disputing the key point put forward in this motion, namely, that this fiasco has inflicted profound distress and anxiety on vulnerable children through a rigid, clinical and deeply flawed interpretation of care needs criteria. We all welcomed the announcement that there will be no reduction in the number of SNAs for the next school year, and of course we welcome the additional €19 million in funding. However, as has already been noted, this does not address the fundamental issue around access criteria, nor does it make clear where the €19 million will come from - perhaps the school building budget or this summer work scheme; who knows. We need clarity on that.”
“I call on the Government to urgently enforce the existing ban on sulky racing on public roads in light of the horrific cruelty and the dangers it poses to both the animals and the public. Just this month in Ballyfermot, a pregnant horse named Anne collapsed during an illegal sulky race, suffering severe cuts, blood loss and suspected broken bones. Despite the heroic efforts of My Lovely Horse Rescue and the UCD veterinary hospital, Anne and her unborn foal were euthanised after being tormented to death. Sulky racing endangers road users with high-speed carts on busy roads and it inflicts barbaric suffering on horses kept in unfit urban conditions. The Government has moved swiftly, and rightly so, to impose a ban on scrambler bikes in public places under Grace's Law following the tragic death of young Grace Lynch.”
“Let us sort this out and let us make sure that Larry Murrin resigns and that we put a credible person in Bord Bia to steer the ship quickly.”
“The issue here is not about the volume of beef; it is the blatant contradiction in terms of food standards promotion and the institutional attitude of Bord Bia, which amounts to telling farmers and Irish producers, "Do as we say, not as we do." It is, as I said, the height of hypocrisy. Farmers, the Government and all the agrifood agencies need to be pulling in the one direction. We need unity. A protracted and contentious standoff, particularly where further reputational damage is likely, cannot be allowed to develop. The Government and Bord Bia would do well to heed the lessons that farmers have imposed on the EU recently with respect to Mercosur. The message was very clear that the farmers were not for turning then, and they are certainly not for turning now.”
“I am not interested in knee-jerk reactions; I am interested in a solution and in putting an end to this before further damage is caused to our reputation here in Ireland. I am not interested in kangaroo courts or anything else, but the longer this goes on the worse the damage will be. As I stated recently, Offaly IFA members as well as farmers throughout this country are really at a loss to understand how Bord Bia is failing to grasp the untenable nature of chairman Larry Murrin's position. We have another Larry causing problems in the beef sector. Can we just put an end to this now and call on Larry Murrin to resign? That would be the right, the honourable and the respectful thing to do for our farmers.”
“I welcome the farmers from all over the country who are here for this debate. I particularly welcome those from the Offaly branch of the IFA. No amount of verbal or procedural gymnastics that the Government engages in can hide the plain fact of the matter, namely that there is an open, glaring and festering contradiction at the heart of this dispute. There is hypocrisy and there are double standards. Irish farmers and their representative organisations have lost confidence in the chairperson of Bord Bia as a result of his company's role in importing Brazilian beef into Ireland. Larry Murrin continuing as chairperson of Bord Bia undermines public confidence in the organisation. It damages Ireland's reputation as a world leader producing food that adheres to world-class standards - the highest standards in the world, in fact.”