Laois farmers angry at being 'treated like children' and want action from 'yapping dog' independents

Frustration at politicians and what was felt was the political system's failure to deliver for farmers was made clear to Laois General Election candidates at a Laois IFA hustings in Portlaoise.

There was also a call for independent candidates to commit to working with parties in the Dáil to deliver for farmers rather than barking like noisy dogs but not acting.

John Colbert wished the candidates well in the race.

“You'll be going into the right business. You'll be going into the Dáil where you'll be guaranteed your salary and your pension unlike us who are asking to do more and more for less and less with more and more regulation that costs us money.

“There is nothing guaranteed in our job. We can sign up to all these Government schemes and scams, as I call them, but we are at the mercy of the vagaries of the weather and marts and political whims like Charlie McConalogue scrapping the straw incorporation measure,” he said.

The farmer described what is coming out of the Dáil and Seanad as a 'disgrace and embarrassing'. He wants change in Leinster House.

“We need new faces in the Dáil, we need people to start talking common sense because what is going on has to stop,” he said.
He said the nitrates directive change threatens the future of farming in Ireland.

“Why would young people go into a business where there is absolutely nothing guaranteed,” he said.

Tom Cushen spoke about politicians being treated 'like children' who are being 'handed out sweets'.

“They promise us this and that but make us feel very small having to listen to rubbish,” he said.

He said nothing is said about the pollution caused by airlines.

“An ordinary farmer with 60 cows and there are people on him like flies on sh**te to see what he is doing wrong,” he said.

Pat Hennessy made a direct call on independent candidates.

“If you are elected would you join one of the main parties in Government to push our case?

“To me independents are our terrier - we have a terrier and three sheep dogs - he is yap yapping the whole time but the other dogs take no notice of them,” he said.

Dan Cosgrave wants to see more regular engagement between farmers and politicians.

“The civil servants get away with doing whatever they like but the politician is not in touch with the organisation,” he said.

The meeting was attended by candidates Pauline Flanagan, Jason Lynch, Sean Fleming, Maria McCormack, Austin Stack, Willie Aird and Brian Stanley.