Mattie McGrath warns pig industry will disappear without support
Mattie McGrath spoke about the urgent need for supports for the pig industry and criticised the government's lack of action. He argued that measures promised by the Commissioner for Agriculture have not been used and warned that farmers and households face unfair costs from policy choices.
Concern over pig industry
McGrath said he was "extremely disappointed" that no solutions were found or even considered to support the pig industry. He recalled that the Commissioner for Agriculture urged using "every tool in the toolbox" but said nothing has been deployed and the sector is still waiting for support before it disappears.
Broader industry losses
He warned that Ireland has already lost sectors in the past, citing fishing and the beet industry under the Fianna Fáil government, and said those industries were vital and valuable. McGrath used those examples to underline his disappointment with current decision-making.
Call for practical supports and tax caution
McGrath highlighted the scale of fossil fuel use, saying Ireland has "two million vitigans, more than one and a half million houses, and a quarter of a million small businesses" that rely on fossil fuels for heating, manufacturing and movement. He urged the minister and the Taoiseach not to "heap tax on them" and said supports are required because it is expensive to change behaviours.
Criticism of European engagement and policy direction
He argued Ireland is not securing support from Europe because it is not being sought and said the country's responses to European demands have left it "badly burned". McGrath called for practical, encouraging policy rather than what he described as pipe dreams, and pressed for tangible assistance for people and businesses.
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Yes, and I'm studying the report from this meeting, I'm extremely disappointed that no solutions were found, or even thought I think, to support our pig industry. The new Commissioner for Agriculture came here some months ago and told us to use every tool in the toolbox and we have used nothing. And still the pig industry is waiting today for some source of support before they disappear. We lost our fishing, we did nothing about it, we lost our beet industry back under the Fianna Fáil government as well, and all these industries are so vital and so valuable, so I'm very disappointed with that. As regards, and something has to be done, not in a few weeks' time after Easter, they can't sustain themselves, they're just unable to do it. Ireland has two million vitigans, more than one and a half million houses, and a quarter of a million small businesses that use fossil fuels for heating, manufacturing and the movement of goods and people. So when is Minister Ryan and the Taoiseach and the Taoiseach and the Taoiseach going to really grasp that little and say, we can't just heap tax on them, it's expensive to change the ways of going on. They must get supports, and it's not on the stick, the big bottom that Taoiseach Martin has, we must encourage them, and we must get rid of the folly and the pipe dreams that we have, and deal with things practically and support our people. We're not getting support from Europe, because we're not looking for it, and all in one thing we say goodbyes in Europe, and when they say jump, they ask us to jump, we say how high. And that's, that has severed us badly, and we got badly burned over the decades. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. ! ! LEGO GIVE !. !
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