Mattie McGrath Warns EU Stimulus Risks Rural Farming
Mattie McGrath criticised the EU stimulus package and its potential impact on rural Ireland, arguing that measures good for Europe may not benefit Irish farmers. He urged extra time or a separate debate to examine the proposals and warned about mixed messages and the financial burden on Ireland.
Concerns on EU stimulus
He said the worry in rural Ireland for farming and indeed the rural economy is that what is good for Europe may not necessarily be good for the farmers in Ireland, and he described that prospect as very serious.
Call for extended debate
He asked whether time could be found to extend the European statements or whether a debate could be scheduled another day during the week so the stimulus package could be discussed in detail.
Mixed messages from leadership
He addressed the Taoiseach directly, noting the Taoiseach had said the package was good for Europe, but warning that "good for Europe" might not be good for Ireland and farmers locally.
Budgetary impact for Ireland
He warned that Ireland was now going to be the fifth highest contributor to European funds and said that this fiscal implication was very serious for the country.
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I normally want to agree with the business that's there but at this occasion it's such an important issue and we're talking about the stimulus package and everything else. The worry in rural Ireland for farming and indeed the rural economy is that what's good for Europe may not necessarily be good for the farmers in Ireland and that's very serious so whether we can find time to extend the European statements or else we can have a debate maybe some other day during the week we need to discuss this in detail because there's too much mixed messages coming as well. You've been saying, Taoiseach, yourself that it's good for Europe. Yes, fine, but that might be good for us. We're now going to be the fifth highest contributor to European funds and that's very serious for Ireland.
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