A Fianna Fáil Minister has said the language and abuse levelled at her during a recent online meeting with a farming group was “appalling.”
Minister of State Anne Rabbitte said she had been “mulling over” whether to comment on her recent meeting with the Individual Farmers of Ireland (IFOI) group on May 14.
She said she felt a public statement is necessary due to what she described as “shocking behaviour encountered during the online meeting.”
She said as a TD representing the rural constituency of Galway East, she knows “too well the importance of farming to our country and the struggles facing farmers and their families.”
She said: “I have met with various farming organisations during my time in the Dáil and I understand there are issues frustrating farmers at present and robust conversation and debate with public reps is to be expected.”
In a statement posted on her Twitter page, Ms Rabbitte said she had to “highlight the shocking behaviour and hostile language used during the meeting.”
She said: “The abuse levelled at me personally went beyond what I would deem acceptable or fair.
“I won’t name those involved to protect them from the embarrassment, but the language used was simply appalling and I can understand why other public reps are reluctant to engage with the group if this is normal practice.
“I have never encountered such levels of abuse in any forum in my time as a councillor, TD or Minister.”
The statement went on to say that she understands not everyone is on the same page while trying to make progress on difficult issues.
But said: “I wish the Individual Farmers of Ireland group well in their endeavours but if this behaviour is standard practice, I simply cannot continue to engage.”
The IFOI group states on its Facebook page that it was set up to represent small and medium sized family farms across Ireland.
It aims to highlight “the underlying problems that affect the respective sectors within agriculture, and rural Ireland as a whole.”
The Irish Mirror contacted the IFOI for comment.
