Mattie McGrath: Urgent Call to Cut NGOs Out of Farming Talks
Mattie McGrath spoke about the future of farming, accusing certain NGOs of undermining farmers and demanding they be excluded from key policy meetings. He said the Minister for Agriculture and the junior minister were sidelined at a meeting with the commissioner and called for unity behind farmers and reforms to sheep and cattle schemes.
Antashka was singled out as having a seat at the table with the commissioner and, according to McGrath, insisting that the Minister for Agriculture and the junior minister leave the discussion. He accused NGOs of talking farmers down, blaming farmers for pollution, and of being overpaid actors harming rural Ireland.
McGrath condemned successive governments for not showing good faith to farmers, specifically citing problems with the sheep scheme and the cattle scheme. He told the audience he comes from the Golden Vale and runs a mixed farm, and he welcomed farming organisations and members including Kevin Casey.
The speech recounts a recent visit by the commissioner where, McGrath said, NGOs had influence and private conversations took place without ministers present. He referenced court cases and argued that polluters such as Irish Water, county councils and industry had escaped responsibility while farmers were targeted in public debate.
McGrath urged all parties and representatives to stand together for farmers, protect the future of farming and fishing, and to "get our own house in order" by removing what he described as traitorous or anti-farmer bodies. He framed the moment as critical for young and old farmers alike and concluded by thanking Deputy Daniel Henry.
Allegations against NGOs
Antashka was singled out as having a seat at the table with the commissioner and, according to McGrath, insisting that the Minister for Agriculture and the junior minister leave the discussion. He accused NGOs of talking farmers down, blaming farmers for pollution, and of being overpaid actors harming rural Ireland.
Complaints about farm schemes and government faith
McGrath condemned successive governments for not showing good faith to farmers, specifically citing problems with the sheep scheme and the cattle scheme. He told the audience he comes from the Golden Vale and runs a mixed farm, and he welcomed farming organisations and members including Kevin Casey.
Account of the commissioner visit
The speech recounts a recent visit by the commissioner where, McGrath said, NGOs had influence and private conversations took place without ministers present. He referenced court cases and argued that polluters such as Irish Water, county councils and industry had escaped responsibility while farmers were targeted in public debate.
Call for unity and action for rural Ireland
McGrath urged all parties and representatives to stand together for farmers, protect the future of farming and fishing, and to "get our own house in order" by removing what he described as traitorous or anti-farmer bodies. He framed the moment as critical for young and old farmers alike and concluded by thanking Deputy Daniel Henry.
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Transcript
Good night to you, I'm glad to be able to speak in this year tonight. I want to welcome all the farming organisations and members that are here tonight, especially Kevin Casey, our Math Manager of Care, and they've now done Garvin, and he's a mocker farmer, because the future of farming is at stake here. And we had all the promises and everything else, but it's like shifting stands now, and we don't know where we are. And I come from the Golden Vale, I come from a very mixed farm, with tillage and cattle and sheep and potatoes, you name it. And you haven't shown good faith to the farmers with the way you've treated the sheep scheme and the cattle scheme. You haven't shown good faith to the farmers for a long time, successive governments. And can I say then that when we had the commissioner here last week, and when she went to a meeting alongside the Minister for Agriculture and the Junior Minister, Minister Hilly Ray, I was astonished to think that with the Jews in the camp, that were kept to the Social Democrats' cause, they totally went totally against the cause that we have here. They're not going to call a call, a call is good speak for me, stand together, united. No. And then, lo and behold, who had the seat at the table? Antashka. And when the minister brought the commissioner to that table, and Minister Haley Ray was there as well, what happened? The brave buyers from Antashka, Antashka insisted that the both ministers leave the table and they had their own conversation with the commissioner. We don't have to guess or be a genius to find out what they said, what they told them. An NGO here, overpaid fat cats that are destroying rural Ireland, that are destroying families, trying to get planning commissioners. An anti-farmer, we saw what happened in the court case in Kikinney, in Deputy Clear's constituency, and the last congola, but the Lanbea plant, and they took it to the high court. Money from taxpayers, money. So we have to get our own house in order, cut out the NGOs, cut out those traitors that are destroying our country here and not supporting us. And then have a government, and all parties, and none, supporting, standing up for the farmers, and we'll be talking about the fishing industry when it's too late. It'll be gone. So we're at D-Day now, and we have huge problems, and we need to stand together. But we don't have to have those NGOs at that meeting last week, and Antashka, and name them out here again, wouldn't allow the minister and the minister of state to hear what they were saying, because they were talking us down. They were talking damaging farmers. They were trying to blame farmers for the pollution that's happening by Irish Water and county councils and industry. We had the pollution in court, and nobody was responsible. But if there's a farmer, it'll be all over the papers and everything else. So it's time that we, what fair here, to rural Ireland, to young farmers and old farmers alike, stand with the farmers, and get rid of Antashka and all the other bodies that are milking us here, soaking us, and destroying us in Europe and elsewhere. Good morning, good. Thank you, Deputy, Deputy Daniel Henry. Thank you. Thank you.