A chara, - Your readers need to know that Billy Kelleher (October 4th) has such a wild imagination that fiction can be passed off as fact in his mind. How else can he claim that Fianna Fáil is the party which best represents farmers' interests?
Fianna Fáil has been nothing other than a disaster for agriculture and today more farmers are leaving the land than ever. Does Fianna Fáil really believe that low farm-gate prices, allowing importation of GMOs, the closure of Carlow sugar factory and closed abattoirs up and down the country are the best this Government can do for farmers? The Greens are working closely with many farmers to develop viable enterprises through growing and processing energy crops, establishing local marketing strategies to develop local economies all the time, adding value to produce for local and export market.
The Greens want to make the CAP work for farmers to ensure viability into the future and we recognise the need for live exports where no alternative exists.
I was delighted to be at the recent ploughing championship with deputy leader Cllr Mary White and many farmer friends (some being members of the GP/Comhaontas Glas) in the Green Party hospitality tent. I invite Mr Kelleher to pay us a visit there next time.
This will give him the opportunity to discuss the fresh and innovative ideas which the Green Party is bringing to agriculture in Ireland. In the meantime he should actually read our agriculture policy for himself. He can find it on our website, www.greenparty.ie. - Is mise,
TREVOR SARGENT TD, Leader/Ceannaire, Green Party/Comhaontas Glas, Dáil Eireann, Dublin 2.