That is ten years away.

For fuck's sake we are in a world of our own.

It was gone by May.

Rural schools.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. The first thing to be said to the Minister, Minister of State, Government and officials is that we do not believe they are intentionally trying to take people away from the CAP. However, it is possible that none of them will here in five or ten years' time. That is not to wish them bad luck. Let us be very clear on what is happening; the Department is saying this is an amendment whereas the European Union, in the documents we have seen, is saying very clearly that …

For the record, the Minister said that there was no such thing as a derogation. I have a document from Europe dated 16 March 2021, regarding the Council proposal GAEC 2, about the derogation to the eligible hectare standard rules. During the exchanges with the European Parliament, including the ITM, meeting on 16 March, the European Parliament expressed concern regarding the Council's proposed GAEC 2 derogation from the standard eligibility. I want that read into the record because this is not just me saying it. Fo…

It is quoting the European Council. If the Minister wants a copy of it, I will send it.

I will send the Minister a copy if he wants.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. In small towns throughout the country, there is a lot of apathy about the Project Ireland 2040 plan. It is regrettable that the Government seems to be following on from its predecessor and leaving small villages across the country that do not have the likes of Irish Water operating there in a situation where the grants they previously got to put in a community sewerage scheme are gone. A central authority will now decide the number of houses that are going to be bu…

If the Tánaiste or I go to buy a car today and visit three different garages that sell the same car new, we will get a different price. If he looks at the television night after night, each of the different stores that sell food will be able to tell him how much he saves. Funnily enough, however, it has been brought to my attention by individual farmers that, in January of this year, the beef price was €4 per kilo. In February, all of a sudden it dropped to €3.70 while the markets in Europe did not show a deteriora…

I am not questioning the different schemes the Government has. I never mentioned them. I agree with the Tánaiste that prices fluctuate. Funnily enough, however, sterling was 91 pence to the euro and it then went back to 85 pence. That means it is better for the person buying in England. The difference between an animal in Ireland and an animal killed in England was €200. Today, if one brought what are called cull cows to mart where the same agents would be buying for the factories, one will actually get more per ki…

I express my sympathy to those who have lost their jobs in Bank of Ireland and to people in rural Ireland. Many parts of my own area, including Dunmore, Ballyhaunis, Ballygar, Elphin and Strokestown, have no bank now. Ballyhaunis is a big town as we understand it in rural Ireland and it has no bank. The banks are not going to come back and there is no point in saying Bank of Ireland is going to change. Will the Minister ask Bank of Ireland to be good enough to give the buildings it owns in rural areas to the commun…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. First, I wish to say that it is regrettable and a sad thing to hear that the Minister for Health had to erect a security fence around his house.

We stand in solidarity with the Minister. There is no place for that in Irish society. We can have our differences in here but respect must be shown to people's families and children-----

-----and to people themselves. We live in an Ireland where people are coming in and going out. I spoke last night to a young couple in Donegal. They are living in a caravan that is damp and are expecting a baby on 1 April next. They cannot get an electrician for two days to finish their house out in the countryside in order that they can live in it. We live in a country where a person who was roofing a house in Portumna was told by a member of An Garda Síochána to go. We live in a country where a group of workers f…

Meanwhile, there were about 22 infections with the virus in the construction sector. Have we lost the courage to make decisions because we got a bite on the arse at Christmas? I was one of those people who said we should then open up things. I put my hand up in that regard. However, I ask the Government to not lose courage and for its members to stand up and be counted. Getting one bite of a dog does not mean just giving up as a result.

Over the past six or eight months, a court case was resolved regarding people who are entitled to a primary medical certificate. Following a lot of the usual spin doctoring from the HSE and Department of Health, this is open but people are not getting appointments. The HSE and Department are prioritising Covid and leaving people with disabilities unable to get a primary medical certificate. Does the Minister think it is right that we are treating people with disabilities this way and what are we going to do about i…

Peat is coming into Ireland from five countries around Europe. This situation is meant to be the same for everyone in Europe, but here in Ireland people cannot stir because of the environmental impact assessment, EIA, requirement for 30 ha. This situation must be addressed.

I only have ten minutes. For the record, we need to clarify what was said by a previous speaker about the property tax in Galway. When his party decided to bring in a property tax, €12 million was collected from the people and the equalisation fund was sent to Ms Angela Merkel. That was decided by a person he supports. On top of that, the water he drinks, the gas that keeps him warm and the electricity that keeps the lights on in Dublin all comes from rural Ireland. The sludge that comes out of the septic tanks and…

I would like a reply to my questions from the Minister, and if he cannot give an answer here, I would like a written reply to each of them. Will the Minister support a beef regulator? That is a simple question with a "Yes" or "No" answer. While in opposition, the Minister stated he would change the 30-month and four-movement rules. Is he willing to do that? Does the Minister intend to bring in a sucker welfare scheme? I voted on a motion that the Minister brought to the previous Dáil seeking to bring in such a sche…