Michael Fitzmaurice: Warns of Carcinogenic Meat and Calls for Accountability
Michael Fitzmaurice warned that imported meat he described as carcinogenic has entered the country and demanded full accountability across the supply chain. He criticised recent policy decisions, highlighted a 30-day factory consultation and urged politicians to stand with farmers and public health.
Allegations about imported meat
He said 120 kgs of hormonal beef, carcinogenic, came into this country and asked what more may have arrived without public knowledge. He accused factories and distributors of bringing in meat containing medicines banned in Europe for 30 years and said consumers should be ashamed and demand answers.
Concerns about Brazil and supply chains
He referenced reports from Brazil about soya producers returning to the rainforest and argued that some producers are ignoring their president to continue business as usual. He called for every person involved "right through this chain" to be exposed and held accountable for imports from third countries.
Domestic enforcement and industry warning
He warned factories and distributors that "the game is on" and said they will be chased up for what they import because it is not trusted. He asked whether people would want their relatives to eat meat that could cause cancer and questioned how the country is allowing such products through.
Political criticism and party discipline
He criticised Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil for having members "offside" and warned of strict party discipline when MPs vote against the government on budget or health bills. He referenced the recent "no to Mercosur" stance and questioned whether parties will allow their European representatives to vote for the deal.
Appeal to farmers and representatives
He saluted farmers and others who came to a loan last Saturday and urged politicians to stand with the farmers in Athlone and across Ireland. He pressed representatives to follow their conscience on trade and health decisions to protect children and public health.
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Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice. First of all, I want to salute every farmer and every person, not alone farmers that came to a loan last Saturday. It was a credit to them. The worrying thing tonight is when you see consultation for 30 days, not far from here in a factory, it shows the signs of policy over the last number of years. A factory in a de Bonham Hall that's having a 30-day consultation. You don't have to be a professor to know what's coming out of that. Yesterday, in Brazil, the soya producers have said they are going back into the rainforest, they are forgetting about their president, what he's doing, they are going to keep out what they're at. 120 kgs of hormonal beef, carcinogenic, came into this country. What more has come in without us knowing? We should be ashamed of ourselves as a country. Someone should be accountable. There should be a case on this, and every bit of this from the person or the unfortunate that's edited right through this chain needs to be exposed. And let me give one message, and one message very clear. To factories or distributors, the game is on. You're going to be chased up now for what you're bringing into this country from third countries because it's not trusted. Would you like your sister, your brother, your mother, your father, your son or your daughter to have got that meat? Do you want them to be eating carcinogenic meat? Do you want them to be eating meat that has medicines in it that are banned in Europe for 30 years, but they're not banned in Brazil? But for the sake of a murk, we're going to let them through. But how do we go about winning the second part of this game, of this dirty, dirty, rotten deal? Well, the first place you have to start is at home. And the first place you have to start with is have we our own team on side to win this game? And unfortunately for Fine Gael, two of them seems to be offside at the moment. And unfortunately for Fianna Fáil, one of them seems to be offside. But if any of you guys over there during a budget or even a bill on health decide to vote again the government, the big finger is out, the whip is imposed and you're thrown out of the party. Is there law and order on your MPs? Is the two main parties that, and I welcome last week, when you did come out and say no to Mercosur, are you going to allow the people that's representing you in Europe with the EPP or the other groupings, are you going to allow them to go and vote for this deal? It is time you get your house in order. Stand with the farmers in Athlone. Stand with the farmers of Ireland. Stand with the rest of this stall and stand with your own conscience and think about it. Do you want your kids to eat stuff that can cause cancer?
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