Mattie McGrath demands emergency debate on pig industry bailout
Mattie McGrath called for an immediate Dáil debate on the crisis facing the pig industry, arguing current government supports are inadequate. He criticised the £27 million offer as an insult and demanded a £50 million package plus a further £50 million repayable.
Protest outside the Dáil
McGrath told the Dáil that pig farmers were protesting outside, stressing they rarely protest but that their family incomes and industry survival were on the line. He said the situation is urgent and requires immediate parliamentary attention.
Funding demands and criticism
He described the £27 million package offered by the Minister of Agriculture as an "insult" and outlined a demand for a £50 million package plus an additional £50 million that farmers would repay. He asked why other sectors should have to repay Covid supports while pig farmers face a threatened industry.
Industry pressures and causes
McGrath warned the pig meat industry in Ireland could be wiped out if further action is not taken, citing a disruptive market situation compounded by the war in Ukraine. He emphasised the sector creates many jobs and needs targeted support to remain viable.
Government response and next steps
The Taoiseach responded that the Minister of Agriculture is engaging with the sector and that funding has already been allocated to the pig meat industry. The Taoiseach said the government is looking at what more can be done, confirmed an effort to schedule a debate next week, and asked the Chief Whip to follow up.
Parliamentary time and responsibilities
The Taoiseach also urged deputies to use private members' time to raise topical issues, noting a need to balance debates and legislation. He cautioned the Dáil should not be consumed only by statements and emphasised the legislature must get the balance right.
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An immediate debate on the crisis facing the pig industry here today. If you came to see them, Taoiseach, they're outside protesting. They're not known to protest, but their family lives and their incomes and that of their industry is on the line. And the £27 million offered by the Minister of Agriculture is an insult to them. They need a package of £50 million and a further £50 that they intend to pay back. What other group in society has paid back money they've got from Covid support? So it's a crisis that you don't seem to recognise, or Minister O'Connor won't recognise, only you won't have any any rashes for your breakfast roll. Facing an industry in Ireland that could be wiped out if he does not act, and this mockery by the teacher who poached eggs, he will be well poached when they get at him. The Taoiseach to respond uninterrupted. I actually said we should have the rasher with the poached egg, I am not joking, I am not joking. I believe in a good rasher for breakfast, but what I would say to you is that the Minister of Agriculture is very alive to the issue. We have already allocated funding to the pig meat industry, just as we did in relation to Covid-19 and helped an awful lot of enterprises survive by investing in those enterprises. We also want to keep a very viable industry, which is the pig meat industry, intact and viable. But in normal times it is a productive industry that does well, so the Minister is engaging with the sector to see if we can do more in respect of what already has been done in respect of this industry. It creates a lot of jobs. What is happening now is beyond its control in respect to a disruptive market situation plus Ukraine. The Minister is working on that. I can confirm that we will endeavour to have a debate on that next week and I have asked the Chief Whiff to follow up on that. In terms of both a debate on the pig meat sector or a debate on the war in Yemen, I would have to say to the deputies that there is more private members' time available in this Dáil and previous Dáil. Therefore there is an obligation on yourselves as well to bring forward these issues in private members' time. Because we do need to balance those topical issues, we need to balance legislation with debates. The House is not meant to be three days every week about statements and nothing else but statements. the Legislative Assembly. We have to get that balance right. Thank you very much.
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