Danny Healy-Rae Vows to Fight Mercosur, Defends Farmers
Danny Healy-Rae spoke in Town Corle in support of the motion, opposing the Mercosur agreement and pledging to fight it as harmful to Irish farmers. He urged the government and ministers for agriculture to reject Mercosur and raised concerns about beef and poultry imports.
Healy-Rae told the meeting he has his word from government that he would be against Mercosur and said he will continue the fight against the agreement. He stressed his personal stake as a long-time farmer and said he was at the start of the campaign and will be there at the finish.
He warned that South American beef imports would compete unfairly with Irish farmers and highlighted current problems with poultry, saying turkeys and chicken are being imported in ways he considers unfair. He said these outcomes were not what he was told at the outset.
He said he is depending on the government and ministers for agriculture to ensure Mercosur is not accepted, and criticised the minister for not speaking more strongly on the issue. He repeated that the government had previously promised opposition to Mercosur.
He expressed disappointment with elected representatives in Europe for not standing up to the European Parliament over Mercosur, saying many have left farmers down. He also rejected criticism from Deputy Daly and Jennifer Quickmore, saying he takes no dictation from them.
He welcomed farmers from around the country, including those who attended an IFA meeting in Kilgarven, and emphasised his farming roots, noting his sons farm and he still works on the land. The remarks concluded amid repeated floor mentions of Deputy Willie Ayers.
Opposition to Mercosur
Healy-Rae told the meeting he has his word from government that he would be against Mercosur and said he will continue the fight against the agreement. He stressed his personal stake as a long-time farmer and said he was at the start of the campaign and will be there at the finish.
Concerns for beef and poultry producers
He warned that South American beef imports would compete unfairly with Irish farmers and highlighted current problems with poultry, saying turkeys and chicken are being imported in ways he considers unfair. He said these outcomes were not what he was told at the outset.
Expectations of government and ministers
He said he is depending on the government and ministers for agriculture to ensure Mercosur is not accepted, and criticised the minister for not speaking more strongly on the issue. He repeated that the government had previously promised opposition to Mercosur.
Criticism of European representatives
He expressed disappointment with elected representatives in Europe for not standing up to the European Parliament over Mercosur, saying many have left farmers down. He also rejected criticism from Deputy Daly and Jennifer Quickmore, saying he takes no dictation from them.
Local engagement and farming background
He welcomed farmers from around the country, including those who attended an IFA meeting in Kilgarven, and emphasised his farming roots, noting his sons farm and he still works on the land. The remarks concluded amid repeated floor mentions of Deputy Willie Ayers.
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Transcript
Town Corle, I'm glad to get the opportunity to talk here tonight on behalf of this motion and I welcome all the farmers here from around the country. Indeed, I see people here that were at an IFA meeting in Kilgarven last night, will you? They're up here and you're very welcome here. Look, lads, all I have is my word. And this government promised me, going back to the start of the year, that I would be against Mercosur. And that was one of the forefront things that I asked. And all I can, all I have is my word. And that's what they said to me that they were against Mercosur. I'd like the minister would have been stronger here tonight when he was talking about it. And I'm only hoping and I'm depending on them to reject it because it's not fair. We're all under the one sky. And if what they're doing down in South America and they can export beef in here against Irish farmers, that's not right. And I won't stand for that any day of the week. I'm a farmer and have been for the last 40 or 50 years. My three sons are farming. I'm farming myself still. And I depend on farmers. And a big part of the vote that I got in County Kerry are the farming organisations along with a lot of others. But I really depend on the farmers. Because I look up to him, I know what he got through in the middle of the night when he's trying to calve a cow. I know what's involved day to day. And when you beat everything else, you still have to continue with the weather. I know what each and every one of you got through because I've gone through it myself and even my father and all belong to me. So we're depending on this government and the ministers for agriculture to get out there and make bloody sure that we're not accepting Mercosur. Because I know what it means. I know what it will mean to the farmers. And then as well, we have a problem with our poultry at the present time that someone can export turkeys or chicken in here. That's not fair. And that's not what we were told at the very beginning. I'm very disappointed with the MPs that we elected over in Europe that they are not standing up and haven't been standing up to the European Parliament in this fight about Mercosur. Because many of them have left us down, Count Corvair. And you can rest assured, my heart is with you and each and every one of you. I know what you're going through day and night. And I will continue the fight against Mercosur. And I take no dictation from Deputy Daly or Jennifer Quickmore calling me out. Because I was here at the start. I'll be here at the finish. I'm supporting the farmers against Mercosur and we'll stand firm on that. Deputy Willie Ayers. Deputy Willie Ayers. Deputy Willie Ayers. Deputy Willie Ayers. Deputy Willie Ayers. Deputy Willie Ayers. Deputy Willie Ayers. Deputy Willie Ayers. Deputy Willie Ayers. Deputy Willie Ayers. Deputy Willie Ayers.