Danny Healy-Rae Urges Ireland-France Ferry Links to Protect Farmers
Danny Healy-Rae spoke on protecting Ireland's agriculture after the breakup of the UK and the European Union, urging the government to secure direct transport links to mainland France. He called for financial support to develop ferry services and warned that nothing should undermine the live export, beef trade or other farm produce.
Main demand - direct Ireland-France ferry links
Danny Healy-Rae told the Dáil that Ireland must ensure direct access from Ireland to mainland France by ferries or other means. He said this is vital because, as an island nation, routes through England may carry tariffs and alternative links are needed to get produce into the rest of Europe.
Funding request - state support for new ferry service
He insisted that governments must provide financial support to develop a new ferry service from Ireland to France. He made clear he and his colleagues are seeking that support so Irish produce can be exported without unnecessary barriers.
Concerns for farm markets and trade
Healy-Rae warned against any action that would be to the detriment of farm produce, including the live trade, live export trade and beef trade. He noted that cattle prices are "fairly good at the present time" after difficult years and stressed the need to protect those markets.
Maintaining UK markets and buyer relationships
He also urged efforts to maintain traditional markets with the UK, describing the UK as a nearest neighbour with many northern buyers who positively influence the cattle trade. He emphasised the importance of preserving those trading links for Irish farmers.
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Thank you very much. In the short space of time I have, I want to highlight and make sure that our agriculture industry won't be compromised in any way following the breakup of the UK and the European Union. And I want to ask government to ensure that we are an island nation and there may be tariffs to go through England so we must ensure that we have direct access from Ireland to France mainland by ferries or whatever to ensure that we have ample ways of getting our produce into the rest of Europe. That is very important. Cattle are fairly good at the present time. I haven't been able to say that for the last four years while I've been up here. We don't want anything to undermine or to happen that would be to the detriment of farm produce, whether it is the live trade or the live export trade or beef trade or any produce from Irish farms. We don't want it. We must make sure. And our governments insist that they get financial support to develop this new ferry service from Ireland to France and make no doubt about it that we are looking for that. Because we must ensure that the Irish produce is able to get out of this country. Also, we must do everything possible to ensure to maintain the markets that we have with the UK and that we've had traditionally. They are our nearest neighbours and there's a lot of, you know, northern buyers come down from the north of Ireland there and we must ensure that nothing jeopardises that there have been good buyers. And we welcome them to places like our side of Ireland. And they always have a positive influence on the cattle trade. So thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thanks you to my untold
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