Michael Healy-Rae
Kerry · Independent · Ireland
“This motion is timely because, with the massive increases for people running their homes and businesses, people who are working have never been at more of a disadvantage because of the high cost of going to work, childcare and fuel. What we need is a more targeted approach by the Government.”
“In County Kerry alone, the number of businesses that are closing weekly is frightening. These businesses are owned by people who have been in business for many years, who are very much valued in our communities and who create local employment, but they are closing their doors. It can be small shops, public houses or gift stores.”
“We should be doing more about providing our own energy, and doing more in a forward-thinking way to try to ensure that these types of measures will help us to reduce the cost of energy.”
“However, at the end of the day, the people that we always have to consider are people on low incomes, people who are working and people who are struggling. We have to try to help them in every way we can through targeted approaches. We have to look at the bigger picture, like the high cost of fuel and the tax take on fuel.”
“I sincerely thank Deputy Charles Ward for bringing forward this important motion. It is a reasonable motion. I acknowledge the work that has been done by people from the Government and the Opposition in securing the situation with IS 465:2026. Large sums of money have been put forward to help the affected families.”
“I urge the Government to outline its position on the EU lead ammunition proposal. This is the proposal to take lead out of ammunition, which could have a negative effect on 150,000 licensed shotgun owners in Ireland.”
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“As of the same date, 21 Garda members were assigned to Carrigaline Garda station, 23 to Douglas, 19 to Bishopstown and 50 to Ballincollig. In addition, as of 31 January 2025, there were 226 Garda staff assigned to Cork. Garda staff work alongside Garda members to carry out vital roles in the organisation to increase the availability of gardaí to focus on important front-line duties. Increasing Garda visibility is a priority for the Minister and it is important to note that An Garda Síochána do not police on a station basis. Policing for an area is delivered using all resources in a community engagement area and supported by divisional resources and units. This approach is supported by the revised Garda operating model. Under the model, Cork north division and Cork west division have merged to form Cork county division since August 2024.”
“The Minister has no role in these decisions and cannot direct the Commissioner or An Garda Síochána to allocate Garda members to certain Garda divisions or stations. However, he would like to assure the Deputy that the Garda Commissioner and his management team keep the distribution of Garda members and resources under constant review. Garda management take operational needs into account and consult closely with local management in each division. Consideration is also given to commitments and undertakings outlined in the annual policing plan and priorities as determined in delivering a policing service for the future. As of 31 January 2025, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 1,282 Garda members assigned to Cork with 616 Garda members assigned to Cork county and 666 assigned to Cork city.”
“On behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy O'Callaghan, I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and for his work in this regard. The Minister was in Cork last Friday and received briefings from senior members of An Garda Síochána. I assure the Deputy that the Minister and the Government are resolute in its support of An Garda Síochána. We want to build safe and secure communities, and a well-resourced policing service is critical to achieving that. In budget 2025, an unprecedented sum of €2.48 billion was allocated, which is allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, technology and equipment. The Garda Commissioner is responsible for operational matters, as the Deputy rightly said, policing decisions including the distribution and allocation of Garda members and resources between the various Garda stations and divisions.”
“They are respectable people who are here impartially, and they are doing a good job. What is going to happen after the vote? We have heard the Opposition saying it will not co-operate with pairings and it will do everything it can to be disruptive. What will the people of Ireland think of that when our Minister for agriculture, for instance, is going to have to work hard renegotiating a new Common Agriculture Policy, CAP, deal? What will happen when the Minister for Foreign Affairs has to leave the country? Will the people of Ireland thank the Opposition if it will not pair and will not roll up its sleeves and do the job it is supposed to do, which is to work on behalf of the people of Ireland?”
“You can be sure of one thing - they were not saying it was a good day for politics. I have confidence in the Ceann Comhairle. I have confidence in a young girl who left school when she was 15 years of age. I have confidence in a young woman who went to England and worked hard in multiple jobs. I have confidence in a young woman, who, at the age of 21, bought a truck and trailer and took to the road to make a living. I have confidence in a woman who became the first female Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil. I have confidence in her ability to carry out that work in a fair and impartial way. I have confidence in the Clerk of this Dáil and the people who work here, whose work has been questioned live on television. That is wrong. Those people are above all reproach.”
“People think that if they keep repeating this, it will stick. I have news for them; they are wrong. Labour, the Social Democrats and the others, who are now firmly on the Sinn Féin leash, are being led like puppies with their new political master. If that is where they want to be, that is where they will stay. I would like to think that I have the finger on what is happening around the countryside, and last night, people in places such as Cahersiveen and Valentia Island were not impressed with what went on in the Chamber last week.”
“-----they sent people to this House to work. What people have seen since is chaos, disruption and behaviour of the worst type. Since Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Regional Independent Group, and the Healy-Raes came together to form a Government, we have heard all these words such as "Lowry's lackeys", "underlings" and "a grubby deal". What is grubby about forming a Government? What is grubby about putting one's shoulder to the wheel and taking responsibility?”
“As I outlined throughout my remarks, there have been a lot of developments in recent years with regard to online safety in a general sense, the prevention of gender-based violence and recommender algorithms. Further steps in online safety will come in July, with the application of Part B of the online safety code. There is also an upcoming evaluation of the EU's audiovisual media services directive, to which Ireland is contributing. This will further strengthen the area of online safety. Our efforts to achieve online safety will continue to be driven by working together with our colleagues across Departments, Coimisiún na Meán and colleagues at EU level.”
“Nothing is more important from the point of view of protecting children than protecting people from some of the horrible things that are out there online at present. The children of today are exposed to so many awful and horrible things out there, which they should never be exposed to. What the Senator is trying to achieve today is very important.”
“It is important to state that enforcement of DSA obligations is already happening. The focus of the DSA is on making sure that platforms carry out risk assessments and take measures to reduce the overall availability and algorithmic amplification of harmful online content. The European Commission launched a number of investigations relating to potential breaches of the DSA regarding recommender systems, including into potentially addictive designs and the amplification of harmful online content. These investigations are ongoing and will likely conclude in the near future. Of all the things anybody could talk about, and of all the issues a person could raise, this is extremely important. It is something that every one of us in both Houses of the Oireachtas should be extremely concerned and worried about.”
“The role of Coimisiún na Meán is to ensure that online platforms are complying with the law, including that their content reporting systems are working effectively. With regard to protecting children and young people from harmful online content, under the DSA, very large online platforms must address this risk of exposure, including by means of age-verification or age-assurance. A failure to comply with any of these measures can lead to significant financial sanctions, and under the OSMR, continued non-compliance can lead to criminal sanctions for senior management. The Act also covers restrictions on recommender systems and algorithmic content. The European Commission is lead regulator for very large online platforms and very large online search engines, VLOSEs.”
“They must also consistently enforce their own terms and conditions relating to content. The DSA introduced stringent obligations for designated very large online platforms, VLOPs, to carry out risk assessments and take mitigation measures in relation to the availability and exposure of users to illegal online content. This includes content related to existing criminal offences in Ireland, for example certain abusive, threatening or offensive communications as detailed in Coco’s law, the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020. Coimisiún na Meán, as Ireland’s designated digital services co-ordinator under the DSA, will support the European Commission in enforcing these obligations.”
“Part B, which will apply from 25 July 2025, has more specific obligations, such as: prohibiting the uploading or sharing of harmful content on their services, including cyberbullying, promoting self-harm or suicide and promoting eating or feeding disorders as well as incitement to hatred or violence, terrorism, child sex abuse material, racism and xenophobia; using age assurance to prevent children from encountering pornography or gratuitous violence online; and providing parental controls for content which may impair the physical, mental, or moral development of children under 16. Threatening violence online is illegal. Under the Digital Services Act, online platforms must provide a way for people to report content they think is illegal. Platforms must respond to these reports in a timely and diligent manner.”
“Part A of the code has general obligations and has applied from 19 November 2024 and the commission is supervising compliance. Under Part A, designated platforms must provide for protections to minors from content that may impair physical, mental or moral development, or to the general public from content which incites hatred or violence, is racist or xenophobic.”
“Coimisiún na Meán, as Ireland’s new online safety and media regulator, is at the heart of that framework. It was established under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, which is one of three main elements of the framework and which transposed the EU audiovisual media services directive. The other two elements are the EU Digital Services Act, under which the commission is Ireland’s digital services co-ordinator, and it is a competent authority in respect of the EU terrorist content online regulation. As provided for under the OSMR, the commission adopted and applied the new online safety code for designated video-sharing platforms established in Ireland, including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X. The code sets out what they must do to protect users.”
“I am grateful to have the opportunity to represent the Minister and give the response. We are all no doubt aware of the importance of online safety and I am happy to provide the Senator with an update on the status of the work in this area. Achieving online safety in the prevention of gender-based violence requires a cross-sectoral effort to coincide with efforts being made within the Department and the new media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, and at EU level. I acknowledge from the outset the collaborative work undertaken across Government and civil society organisations under the national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, which is led by the Department of Justice. There is now a significant body of legislation providing the foundation for Ireland’s online safety framework, including the regulation of social media.”
“The organisation now has measures in place to ensure it will never be complacent about child safeguarding, and is committed to maintaining best practices on a continuous basis. Officials from the Department of children will continue to liaise with St. John Ambulance Ireland to ensure continued progress on the implementation of Dr. Shannon's independent review report recommendations.”
“John Ambulance Ireland has informed the Department of children that it will continue to provide regular updates to its response document on the implementation of the Shannon report recommendations, with the latest one received this month. With respect to the therapeutic supports for survivors, the Department of children has been advised by St. John Ambulance Ireland that a counselling service is in plan. Service level agreements were put in place with recognised counselling service providers. These counselling services are available to victims and survivors through recognised providers, fully funded by St. John Ambulance Ireland. This support continues. St. John Ambulance Ireland has committed to a robust implementation of child safeguarding practices and procedure.”
“I thank the Senator. The national safeguarding officer is conducting an audit of each of the 22 St. John Ambulance Ireland branches in respect of Children First compliance. This is a very important step. It will ensure that all local branches have an on-site designated child safeguarding officer, and that each branch has its own bespoke child safeguarding statement with adherence to the Children First legislation. It will also ensure that adequate child safeguarding training practices are in place. Furthermore, it will ensure proper management of reports of concern or allegations of child abuse and the reporting of same to the Department of children. St.”
“Shannon's recommendations and the ongoing work of the national safeguarding officer. In light of the progress made to date, and the comprehensive and robust measures already in place and due to be put in place, it is the view of the Minister for children that a statutory inquiry is not required. St. John Ambulance Ireland is making continued efforts to ensure that all of Dr. Shannon's recommendations are fully implemented. The Government looks forward to further progress being made on the implementation of Dr. Shannon's recommendations and the finalisation of the work of the national safeguarding officer this year.”
“John Ambulance Ireland recognises that safeguarding best practices will continue to evolve and the Department of children will continue to review its operations to ensure they meet and exceed the standard so the mistakes of the past do not happen again. St. John Ambulance Ireland has made supports available to those affected following the publication of the report, including outreach support and counselling and therapeutic services funding by the organisation. These supports are provided on an anonymous basis and funded in full by St. John Ambulance Ireland. Officials from the Department of children are due to meet the commissioner of St. John Ambulance Ireland and the national safeguarding officer in the near future to further review the implementation of Dr.”
“This is to prevent local branches allowing people to attend for duties when they are vetted but without the appropriate safeguarding training. This is very important. Members being revetted must have completed Children First e-learning and St. John Ambulance Ireland safeguarding training in the same calendar year as their vetting. Following the recommendations by the national safeguarding officer, a new risk assessment template is being developed as part of the revised child safeguarding statement. It is recommended that a yearly safeguarding workshop be made mandatory for all members of the organisation involved in leadership. This will be an opportunity to upskill and update on safeguarding matters. St.”
“The safeguarding officer is reviewing the organisation's child safeguarding statement and its child safeguarding policy and procedures. It is understood that these are deemed to be robust and clear but that there are opportunities for enhancement. This review will be further informed by the outcome of an audit of all 22 St. John Ambulance Ireland branches throughout the country in respect of the implementation of Children First. The review is being undertaken by the national safeguarding officer. St. John Ambulance Ireland has given assurances that the updated Garda vetting policy and procedures for 2025 have been approved by its board. The adult volunteer process specifies that members must undergo a Children First learning programme and the organisation's safeguarding programme training before they can be vetted.”
“This, in turn, strengthens the efficiency of the governance regime in the organisation. It should be noted the safeguarding officer is independent in his work from St. John Ambulance Ireland. The Department of children is still engaging with St. John Ambulance Ireland and progress is being made on the implementation of all 11 recommendations. St. John Ambulance Ireland recently published its fourth progress report on the implementation of the recommendations, highlighting the progress it has made as an organisation. There have been many developments regarding the implementation of the recommendations. The national safeguarding officer was asked by St. John Ambulance Ireland to review the adequacy and effectiveness of the organisation's response to complaints of sexual abuse within the organisation.”
“That authority, under the remit of the Department of Rural and Community Development, is Ireland's statutory regulator for charitable organisations, including St. John Ambulance Ireland. A key recommendation of Dr. Shannon's report was for the appointment of a national safeguarding officer to St. John Ambulance Ireland. In 2024, the previous Minister for children took the initiative to provide once-off funding for the appointment of a national safeguarding officer for St. John Ambulance Ireland for a specified period of 12 months. This was to ensure that recommendations from Dr. Geoffrey Shannon's report were implemented in full and to review the organisation's child safeguarding policies and procedures. This work is ongoing. The national safeguarding officer ensures that an extra layer of oversight and governance is present.”
“John Ambulance to all known victims-survivors. The written apology has also been posted to the organisation's website to ensure transparency and awareness among victims-survivors and others. The Department of children has engaged with St. John Ambulance on a number of occasions since the publication of Dr. Shannon's report and will continue that engagement relating to the issues raised in that report and its 11 main recommendations, in particular in respect of support to survivors of abuse. St. John Ambulance Ireland is not a body under the aegis of the Department of children. This is because it is independent in its functions as a registered charity. The Minister for children has no role in the governance of the organisation. Oversight of the governance of this charity is a matter for the Charities Regulator.”
“I am glad to be able to respond on behalf of the Minister with responsibility for children. I thank the Senator for raising this important issue and offering me the opportunity to respond. The Government wants to acknowledge the trauma associated with sexual abuse in childhood, which continues into adulthood affecting many aspects of the victims-survivors' lives and the impact it has had on those victims-survivors. The Minister for children is clear that all of the recommendations in Dr. Geoffrey Shannon's report should be complied with as soon as practicable by St. John Ambulance Ireland. The Department of children has been assured that St. John Ambulance Ireland is fully committed to ensuring that it assists and provides support to all victims-survivors. A written organisational apology has been issued by St.”
“At the same time, the Government has been telling people to rely more on the ESB. The more they rely on the ESB, however, the more they need it. We have a duty in this regard. Deputy Cooney is doing great work. It is not his first time raising this matter since the storm. He has been over and back to Agriculture House regularly to discuss it. I want the people of Clare to know that.”
“If we are to come along now to that landowner and say that it must be a greater width, we must have legislative powers. Second, we cannot go to a person with our hands hanging. We have to be able to say we want to create a bigger wayleave. The Deputy, on behalf of his constituents, will say the landowner will have to be compensated. We cannot go into a person's land willy-nilly and say we will do this because landowners have to be respected. The Deputy is right to raise the fact that it is the duty of the Government to protect power lines and the energy going into people's homes. In the programme for Government, people were thinking ahead. That never happened previously. It is a recognition of the fact that our storms are becoming stronger and having an effect on the energy that goes into people’s homes.”
“I thank Deputy Cooney. I like it when the Deputy says it is time for less talk and more work. To show the Deputy what work is going on, this is a matter that I am dealing with at the forest windblow task force, which met again yesterday morning. Subsequent to the meeting I and the Ministers, Deputies Heydon and O'Brien, had with the ESB last week, officials from the Department are exploring what we need to do to get on to the next phase, that is, the necessary legislation that might be required to allow this work go on. The Deputy will appreciate that while work will have to be done, you cannot go on to a person's land where there is, for example, a corridor created already and a wayleave may have been agreed with the forest owner 20 years ago. The landowner might have been compensated for that at a certain width.”
“It was also highlighted to the ESB that the practice of trimming branches near power lines along the roadside is not good enough because they will grow again. We have to be more aggressive in our approach in ensuring that we protect the power lines.”
“Across the country, these clean-up operations are already under way and the sector is doing all it can to meet the massive task we face. When we were meeting the ESB last Wednesday evening, up to 50 harvesters were out working and contracted by the ESB to engage in that work. They are working along the existing corridors. What we have to do, and it is in the programme for Government, is to enhance those corridors, which will obviously lead to a situation where forest owners or landowners may have to be compensated for the encroachment on their land. As I stated, however, this will be for the greater good and to try to safeguard the security of energy to people's homes. At the end of the day, that is of paramount importance.”
“We have seen the devastation caused in the Deputy's constituency and throughout the country, with people left in awful situations and people with sick children and elderly people left without heat and without light in their homes. It was an awful situation. Deputy Cooney is correct to raise this issue. All I can tell him is that we are working on it. We will continue to work with all the stakeholders to address the issues we now face, including those in relation to forestry and power lines. At the centre of these considerations are the wider good and the need to take into account the needs of those landowners who have committed to forestry and will do so in the future. I want to make it clear that people who already have a clear-fell or thinning licence along with a road licence can commence their clean-up operations straightaway.”
“It will involve, we imagine, changing legislation. Everybody believes the ESB has far-reaching legislative powers to go into land and do what is required to protect the power lines but it does not. New legislation potentially needs to be brought in. It would, of course, go through the Houses of the Oireachtas swiftly as everybody would support it because it would be for the betterment of the people of the country. The incoming Government showed great foresight in the programme for Government, before we ever had this storm, in recognising that the protection of power lines and telecommunication lines was of massive importance. The Government's commitment to protecting those lines is in the programme for Government.”
“It is not only today that Deputy Cooney has brought this matter to the attention of the Dáil because he has been working diligently on the issue. The Deputy has worn a path to Agriculture House and has been on to me and my officials. I recognise that and his sterling work on behalf of his constituents. This is an important matter. It is also of grave concern to our colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, who has also been making representations about this matter. As Deputy Cooney correctly stated, the existing legislation and corridors have failed, which is simply not good enough. Last week, the Ministers, Deputies Heydon and Darragh O'Brien, and I met senior people from the ESB to discuss the corridors that are in place and what needs to be created in the future to ensure that situations such as we had will not occur again.”
“A horse is to be treated in the kindest possible way. Horses are beautiful animals and to see this happening on our streets and in our urban areas, or any area, is totally wrong. The Deputy is doing a great service for the people by raising this most important matter. I thank him for doing so in a sound, solid way.”
“When I was a young person starting out, every day my day's work involved working with a horse by the name of Billy, so the Deputy will appreciate how I feel about this very important matter. I see some of the absolute horrific cruelty that horses have to endure. The Deputy is correct in what he said. It is upsetting for everybody, especially young people, to see animals being mistreated in this way. It is horrible beyond belief. The Minister and the Department will do everything they can. As can be seen from the statistics, enough funding is going through. The charitable organisations are doing their work, but at the end of the day it is very hard to legislate for other people's behaviour. This whole acceptance by certain people that they can do whatever they like because it is only an animal is what we have to get away from.”
“From 2015 to date, the Department has spent more than €2 million on urban horse projects. Last year, €6 million in funding went to 101 animal welfare charities throughout the country under the animal welfare grant programme. Of that figure, just over €3.4 million was awarded to charities involved in the care and welfare of horses. On a personal level, I will say that the Deputy has done a great service to the people of Limerick in raising this. It is not just today that he has done so. He has been in continuous contact with the Department about this matter on behalf of his constituents. He is a very strong person on this. I recognise that, as does the Minister, Deputy Heydon. We should do everything we can collectively to put our shoulders to the wheel to try to stop this horrible practice.”
“The number of unwanted horses being seized by local authorities reached a peak in 2014 and has declined significantly since then. All legislation in the Department of agriculture is kept under constant review, including the Control of Horses Act 1996, which is currently under review. Plans for replacement legislation are advancing. The aim of this replacement legislation is to simplify and clarify procedures in the Act in respect of the seizure and disposal of horses. The Department of agriculture undertook a stakeholders' consultation in 2023 on the control of horses legislation, with submissions sought by November 2023. Four submissions were received, which will feed into the legislative process.”
“The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine takes the matter of animal welfare most seriously and responds to any reports of alleged animal cruelty or legislative non-compliance. Under the Control of Horses Act 1996, local authorities may take a range of actions on equines, including the prohibition of horses in certain areas, the issuing of licences and the seizure of horses that are in contravention of the Act. These powers can be used in respect of straying horses, which includes horses put on land without the owner's permission, including public land. Local authorities may also prosecute offenders. The Department of agriculture provides funding to local authorities as a contribution towards the costs incurred by them in operating the Control of Horses Act 1996.”
“The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, introduced by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, brought all farmed and companion animals, including leisure, sport and working animals, under a single legislative framework. The Act provides a modern framework for applying standards in the area of animal health and welfare. Since the Act of 2013 came into operation, in March 2014, 181 individuals have been successfully prosecuted, but that is not half enough. There have to be more prosecutions. This horrible practice has to be stopped. The programme for Government is very strong on this. It provides a commitment to prioritise equine welfare and build on existing inspectors' reports throughout the country, ensuring a consistent approach to dealing with horse welfare.”
“I apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Martin Heydon, who could not be here but who is also very anxious about this issue because of the simple fact that addressing it is so important. Neglecting or causing unnecessary suffering to an animal is totally unacceptable in our society. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is fully committed to the ongoing promotion and enforcement of high animal welfare standards. The Department continues to enforce the law in this important area and works very closely with An Garda Síochána, the customs service, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.”
“I sincerely thank Deputy Quinlivan for raising this most important matter on the floor of the Dáil. Given that it is most important, the people of Limerick will rightly be grateful to him. I know about the matter at first hand because I have family members living in the city and am there a lot. What is going on is a disgrace. The Deputy is so correct to have done what he has done here today. While he has highlighted that what I would call blackguarding of the worst type is going on, he has also recognised that there are responsible horse owners. There are people who adore their horses and who want to mind and cherish them. The horses are like family members. The Deputy made a very clear distinction in that there are people who do not know the first thing about horses or animal welfare. What is going on is disgraceful.”
“We cannot leave the product on the ground for too long because it will lose value. Another message I want to give to the people relates to our sawmills. I was glad to bring representatives from the sawmills around the table yesterday. They assured me they will not in any way try to take advantage of the situation.”
“If you take the people with a licence for clearfell already or a licence to thin forestry, they account for something in the region of 56.5% of those 435 forests. They have permission from my Department to go in tomorrow with contractors and extract that timber. While 435 is not the total number, it is representative. If that follows through to the rest of the forests, the owners of many thousands of acres that are down have permission from the Department to extract that timber. Our next problem will be getting enough contractors. We do not have enough machinery in the country. I have instructed officials from my Department to make contact with people abroad who will have the wherewithal to assist with the work. It is a big programme of work and is like a race against time.”
“If you have a forest that is down, engage professional foresters and seek advice and guidance but please, especially older people, you do not have to be going into these forests yourselves. We have been gathering satellite image over the past 14 days and have a handle on this now. We are getting a total acreage of what exactly is damaged. I will provide a statistic that it is important for everyone in the Dáil to know. In their constituencies, Deputies will have people asking how they should go about licensing and what is their next step. The first thing to tell them is to be safe and mind themselves. I really mean that and cannot emphasise it enough. We did a snapshot of 435 forests affected by the storm.”
“We had forestry that was split. I mean that trees did not blow over but split maybe a third of the way up, which is where the saw wood heads into the boxwood. We have had awful incidents and have lost a life already. The message has to go out clear from the Government to any person with forestry damaged by the storm. I immediately - as in half an hour after being appointed - set up a task force which has been working diligently with the forestry and horticultural sectors. We have worked diligently to ensure we change and make more user-friendly the way people extract timber. However, it is an awful dangerous job. Our forests at present are dangerous places to be. I have a €2.5 million budget for farm safety, which is my direct responsibility. We have to send out a message to people.”
“We can go anywhere around the world. People in media might complain of people in government going abroad for St. Patrick's weekend. I welcome the fact they are going because it is not twiddling their thumbs they are; they are going out to represent us. When I say "us", I mean people in opposition and in government. They are flying the flag and meeting with employers, customers and the Irish diaspora around the world. It is important to fly the flag for Ireland. I passionately believe in that. It is a terrible important job of work to do. With regard to agriculture, forestry and horticulture, things have been quite literally turned upside down. We have many thousands of hectares of forestry that are knocked at the moment. Not only was there windblow, but there was an unusual thing connected to the storm event we had.”
“He saw opportunities, such as older people who were leasing out land. He has expansion plans and a model he is working to. I have no doubt in my mind that young man will be milking 1,000 cows within five years. That is what we want. While recognising people like him, we have to remember his uncles and aunties who might have a small farm in Mayo or around the country. They too are integral to the future and to the respectability of our produce. That is why I welcome the role of the Minister of State, Deputy Grealish. He will be the ambassador and salesperson for our agricultural produce, whether from horticulture, dairy, beef, poultry or pigmeat. Our way of farming in Ireland is organic. We do farming and the production of farm goods better than anyone else. We do it more cleanly and efficiently. Our product is second to none.”
“They might be in this House and they might become Ministers in the future. They are bright, young and intelligent and they come from great family farms. I met people from small farms around the countryside and it was a privilege to meet them and see the enthusiasm they have for their work. I recognise the sponsors of today because careers day is a very important day and I thank them. I thank Agriland and the Irish Farmers' Journal , which I would call the bibles of agriculture in Ireland because they are there to cover the events. They too recognise the youth of Ireland who have an interest in and flair for agriculture. I was privileged to meet a man today who a number of years ago left UCD. He had no acre of land and today is milking 250 cows because he is using his brain.”