"SLURRY SPREADING DEADLINE MUST BE EXTENDED THIS YEAR"

"SLURRY SPREADING DEADLINE MUST BE EXTENDED THIS YEAR" - Cllr Paul Lawless

The slurry spreading deadline must be extended well into October in a bid to help the agricultural sector who are working to a standstill to try and meet the current cut off point.

That’s according to Aontú’s Mayo Cllr Paul Lawless who says he is writing to the Minister for Agriculture seeking an extension as a matter of urgency.

Cllr Lawless says

“Farmers and Agricultural Contractors are in an absolute tailspin given the dreadful Summer we had. The fields around Mayo and the West in general were sodden and only improved recently”.

“I have been inundated with calls from Contractors, many of whom are doing 20 hours a day trying to get slurry out before deadline. They are trying to do 2 months’ work in 2 weeks, they need to get the tanks emptied but it’s absolutely impossible for them.”.

“Usually, they’d get slurry out in the Spring / Summer, but this Summer truly bucked that trend with more rain than sun”.

“In all, they have had a disastrous Summer so they need urgent help”

The Irish political system is radically broken

In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.

Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.

Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.