Protesting farmers remind Dáil 'we exist'

MAYO Aontú general election candidate Paul Lawless says it's frustrating to see so many politicians and others demonising the farmers who took to the M50 during the week.

He said of the farmers' protest in the capital: “Let's get one thing straight here: This was the farmers' only opportunity to draw attention to their plight, to the horrific injustices done to the beef sector, the 'small man' and rural Ireland in general by a Dublin-centric Fine Gael government which was at all times propped up by Micheál Martin.”

He commented: “There is a huge divide east and west in this country, with certain politicians and journalists walking through Dublin asking 'what's all this about?'

“It's about our livelihoods, it's about our futures, it's about actually making a profit from beef farming. It's about showing Dublin that we won't be bullied, and reminding those in Dáil Éireann that we exist.

“Aontú unapologetically stands with the beef farmers, and is 100% supportive of their recent protest. To this end my party leader has introduced the Equity Beef Pricing Bill which would ban the below cost sale of beef.

“It's time we fought our corner."