Roscommon-Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice raised the possibility of establishing a party to represent rural Ireland – and ‘stand up’ to the Green Party.
The independent TD has called on other rural TDs to join together and create their own political party to represent interests outside urban areas.
He told On the Record with Gavan Reilly rural residents and farmers “need certainty for the future” following 'chaos' created by the Green Party.
He said the recent protests from young members of Macra na Feirme show people are feeling “left behind”.
“They walked because of the uncertainty for them as young farmers in housing [and] the different types of farming that they do,” he said.
Deputy Fitzmaurice said policies should include farmers more, such as engaging more in tree-planting policies.
“I’m all for sustainability – we need to make sure we do that well,” he said. “But we need to make sure that we have farmers knowing where they are going.”
“A lot of noise”
Green Party Senator Róisín Garvey said trying to set up a new party is a “brave thing to do” - but most of the issues raised are “a lot of noise”.
The spokesperson for rural development said: “I think a lot has been done for rural Ireland. I always take on more, that’s my number one focus.”
She said she doesn’t think Deputy Fitzmaurice is denying climate change – but they have different ideas for how to help farmers in the crisis.
“The biggest challenge to farmers is the unpredictable weather patterns because of climate change,” she said.
Senator Garvey agreed farmers are facing problems, although she said this is due to choices from the Department of Agriculture rather than the Green Party.
“I have a huge issue with the fact that I see animals in small farms, they have amazing quality grass, and yet they get the same price as the big farmers in the east,” she said.
“That's an issue we should both be fighting together and challenging that.”
Grants
Senator Garvey also said farmers will have “higher grants than ever before” once the backlog is resolved.
“They’ll be receiving 20-year premiums and that's to help young people to know they will be able to [farm].”
“I know it's hard to get that person to build a house,” she said. “It's hard to get the money you need if you want to go solar.”
Senator Garvey said all she is trying to do is “sort out the mess” that currently exists in the Department of Agriculture.
Deputy Fitzmaurice said a new rural party is still needed to intervene on any future European Union policies that could harm farmers’ livelihoods.
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