Tillage Sector
Dail Éireann — 2025-10-14
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Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin (SF), Wicklow-Wexford

I am not convinced by the Government's response. The fact of the matter is that we are in the middle of a crisis and farmers have no increase this year. It is still €40 per acre. In her response, the Minister of State mentioned the drinks industry. We have such opportunities but it is incredible to believe that our famous Irish whiskey does not have a requirement to have Irish grain in it. This is absolutely incredible. It is one small thing. There would be incredible opportunities if we were to make additional changes, as well as additional payments, and have proper regulation whereby there should be Irish grain in Irish whiskey. It is a very basic requirement. We could do great things and this is one small example. The Government really needs to have a vision for an industry that is dying on its feet. This is something we have been doing in Ireland for 6,000 years and it would be shameful if we were to drive all the young farmers off the land. Many of them do not see a future and neither do their parents with regard to passing on the farm to their children.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2025-10-14/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-21T01:01:04+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-10-14