THE Minister for Agriculture "[should resign over his handling of the BSE crisis, the Green Party agriculture spokeswoman, Ms Paula Giles, told the party's annual convention.
Chance after chance to establish the good standing of this country and its food produce has been fluffed," Ms Giles said. Mr Yates and his Department had used "every technique available" to avoid straight answers to straight questions, and had preferred to "circle the wagons" around "the cosy cartel that supports intensive conventional agriculture".
While the Minister was spending taxpayers' money on promoting Ireland's "green image" in Berlin last March, his Department had closed down organic food trials sponsored by Teagasc at Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford, she said.
The decision to appoint the Department of Finance to examine food safety did not instil confidence either, Ms Giles said.
Referring to the environmental situation in the Askeaton/Ballysteen farmlands in Co Limerick, she said this had "clearly been designated as a sacrifice area" by the Government. "The Department of Agriculture knows there are at least 40 farmers now with mysterious animal illnesses, and hundreds of unexplained animal deaths," she said. "And what does the Minister do? He sends them a questionnaire."
A call for greater Government commitment to the fishing industry was made by the party's spokeswoman on the marine, education and defence, Ms Donna Cooney.