Mattie McGrath: Condemns Green proposals, urges withdrawal
Mattie McGrath spoke on 31 May 2023, criticising proposed environmental legislation and urging its withdrawal. He said farmers do not want incentives and should be left alone to tend land nurtured for generations, and he accused a Green colleague and state bodies of demonising farmers.
Opening remarks
McGrath welcomed guests in the gallery described as "custodians of the land" and told his Green colleague, Deputy Leiden, that he would take no lectures from her.
Farmers and incentives
He argued farmers "don't want incentives" and instead want to be left alone to look after land they have nurtured for decades and generations. He warned against "whiz kids" from the Green side coming in with ideas that tell farmers what to do and accused others of demonising the farming community.
State bodies and environmental enforcement
McGrath cited what he called desperate experiences with Quilta, "the addict of their properties", Borden and Mona, saying these were all state bodies. He criticised the EPA for not challenging county councils and Dublin City Council for pumping sewage into rivers.
Science and cancellation
He denied being a climate denier and said there is "real science out there" and alternatives to the proposals being advanced. He said real scientists are being demonised, receiving hate mail and being "a little being cancelled", calling that a bad situation for the country.
Migration debate and political mandate
McGrath also linked the treatment of critics in the migration debate, saying people are demonised and labelled as "loony lefts" if they speak. He said the electorate had not given "this cat branch" to do what is being done and warned that current policies risk leaving people hungry.
Call to withdraw and engagement
He directly urged the withdrawal of the legislation, accused Minister Hackett of doing "raging damage" and antagonising ordinary farmers, and called for ministers to engage with people and talk to them.
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Welcome guests to the gallery today, people who are the custodians of the land. I take no lectures from our Green colleague, Deputy Leiden. The farmers don't want incentives, they want to be left alone to look after land that they've nurtured and cared for for decades and for generations. And they don't need whiz kids from the Green with these mad ideas, telling them what to do. This is the problem here. There will be no consultation, there will be no engagement. We have desperate experiences of Quilta and the addict of their properties. We have desperate experiences of Borden and Mona. All state bodies. Look at the EPA, not challenging county councils and Dublin City Councils for pumping sewage into the rivers. I get you what to demonise and blagard the farmers, the people who put bread and put food on the table. So I say to you, withdraw this legislation. We're not climate deniers, but there's real science out there. There's alternatives to what you're peddling and what you've brought into. And those real scientists are being demonised, getting hate mail, a little being cancelled. And this is a bad situation. You have this going on in our country. In regarding to this debate. You also have it with the migration debate. People can't say a word, but they're demonised and put into a bracket of loony lefts or something else. You have the people that are not respecting the electorate. And the electorate haven't given you this cat branch to do what you're doing. It's bad for Ireland. We need to feed our people and export everything else. And our people will be hungry if you have your policies. You did more damage in 07 to 11 when you're in government. I was in there as a backbencher. I saw it. And the tentacles are still there. And the raging damage that Minister Hackett is doing at this point in time is just shocking and antagonising ordinary farmers and people. Get down and engage with the people. Talk to them. Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
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