Like you did in the North?

Sentiment score: 0.36

I regret the decision of Michael Healy-Rae today. I acknowledge his role as Minister of State with responsibility for forestry and as a good colleague in the Department of agriculture over the past 15 months. As a sector, we in agriculture face plenty of challenges. It is my job to fight for and defend agriculture in the best interests of our farmers, fishers and agrifood sector and because of its importance to our overall economy, and in particular our rural economy. I do this in my Department and at Cabinet and with the support of my colleagues across government. This Government recognises the vital role our farmers, fishers, foresters and farm contractors play across Ireland. The vulnerability of our farmers and fishers to a massive energy shock has greatly concerned us all. However, with Government support, our agrifood sector will endure. We grew up as young children on our farms being told there would be no future in farming, because of the impending Maastricht reforms of the early 1990s, but farming endured. We were told that the Fischler reforms, greening, Covid, Brexit and the high cost of imports following the Ukrainian war were each going to be the end of the world for agriculture. However, farming endured and continued, and it will continue to do so into the future with the support of the Government, like it has in the past. We recognise the exceptional pressure that rising fuel costs are placing on our agrifood sector at such a crucial time of the year. I have heard it from friends, neighbours and in my ongoing engagements with representative bodies. Green diesel has almost doubled in price, from less than €1 per litre, in a matter of weeks, right at the time when farmers and contractors are in the middle of spring work and facing into a busy silage season. That is why this Government has approved a substantial package of support. It includes the full removal of all non-carbon excise on green diesel, totalling 7.5 cent per litre, and a further support of 20 cent a litre through a €100 million fuel subsidy support scheme for farmers and farm contractors. This support of 27.4 cent a litre will be to the benefit of both farmers and contractors, recognising their central role in sustaining essential food production. This is about much more than just one sector. It is about support for every citizen in this State because when input costs rise, it puts pressure on the price and availability of food for all consumers. Energy shocks without support would lead to significant inflation, particularly in respect of food, on which we all depend. Unchecked, it would have a direct impact on the cost of living for all.

Sentiment score: 0.22

By supporting the agrifood sector and our hauliers and all those reliant on fuel who play a role in getting food from farm to fork, we support everyone.

Sentiment score: 0.82

We have a choice to make here. Those in opposition can attempt to either dismiss or ignore these supports and try to prevent their introduction or they can choose to engage with me and my Department on their roll-out to those who need them most. The choice is theirs.

Sentiment score: 0.12

I do note that the bully boys in the corner never said a word when I was speaking, unlike their interventions when my female ministerial colleagues were speaking.

Sentiment score: -0.49