Grealish: 'My job every weekend was to milk the cows on Saturday and Sunday'
The Independent TD for Galway West, Noel Grealish, shared in his maiden speech as a minister of state how growing up on a farm meant that his job "every weekend was to milk the cows on Saturday and Sunday".
"We used to go to seven o' clock mass in the morning and I would have the cows milked beforehand.
"Every cow had a name... so I know what it is like to walk through the farm animals in the morning," Minister Grealish said.
His first speech, as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, was an address to the Dáil last week during a debate on the 'Importance of Agrifood to the Irish Economy'.
Minister Grealish took the opportunity to pay tribute to what he described as the "adaptability and resilience " of family farms during the debate which saw TDs and ministers from both sides of the house underline the "importance of farming" to the Irish economy.
"Living in uncertain times, we need our farm families to be producing safe, sustainable and high-quality food more than ever," he said.
The minister also stressed that all the ministers at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) "are conscious of the challenges facing agriculture, farming and fishing".
"We remain vigilant in monitoring agrifood sector developments, including farm incomes, viability and structures, the performance of key market commodities, food industry trends and key economic indicators.
"We are aware of factors which may adversely affect the sector, including geopolitical developments and their potential to impact international trade relations," Minister Grealish added.
The minister told TDs that the government would continue to work at EU level "to ensure we have an adequately funded CAP into future which supports our farmers".
During the Dáil debate he highlighted that he believes the Irish agrifood sector is "well placed" to play a key role in meeting an increasing global demand for high-quality food and that he is looking forward to supporting it in his new role.
"The agrifood sector's contribution to the social and economic fabric of our country cannot be overstated.
"The sector produces food and ingredients with a global reputation for quality and safety, with a livestock sector built on an invaluable grass-based production system," Minister Grealish added.
