Citizens' Assembly on biodiversity
Danny Healy-Rae attacked the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss as unfair to farmers and asked that it be disbanded. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle repeatedly called time while he continued to protest the assembly and its proposals.
The Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss, which the Government unwisely set, up is aggravating and tormenting farmers with suggestions that exports should be taxed further and that farm payments, which are subsidies, should be brought to a halt. I have to remind these people that farm payments are compensation to farmers who are not properly paid for their produce and who, by giving cheaper food, are helping the consumers of Ireland and Europe. This is very unfair. These people were not elected by anybody. The farmers’ representatives and every other part of our community are represented by Deputies and Ministers in Dáil Éireann.
Comment on this
They are elected by the people and are responsible. I ask the Taoiseach to disband the citizens' assembly because it is aggravating and tormenting farmers with unfair proposals.