Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements
Dail Éireann — 2020-04-30
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Michael Creed (FG), Cork North-West

I am somewhat surprised that Deputy Naughten has followed the path worn by Deputy Carthy, who has left the Chamber, and is advocating for the US model of agriculture. I am staggered by it. US farmers are dumping milk and have seen their beef plants close. At least we have managed to keep milk collected and farmers paid for that milk, albeit there is a price challenge in that regard.
Deputy Naughten cited the EU's response. I agree it is inadequate and we continue to make that case, but that inadequacy is on top of levels of support that are there generally. American agriculture is a free market model with no supports for family farms. It is an industrial model of agriculture that we should avoid like the plague. I am surprised Deputy Naughten is following the example of Sinn Féin in advocating a Trump-style agriculture in Ireland or the EU.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2020-04-30/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:48:16+00:00
Sitting date: 2020-04-30