Charles Ward TD spoke in the Dáil: Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Charles Ward TD, a member of the 100% Redress Party who represents Donegal, spoke in the Dáil on Tuesday about the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine’s Vote 30 initiative. In his remarks he joined other members in discussing the programme, which is aimed at improving agricultural policy and supporting rural communities across Ireland.

Ward, who lives in the village of Drumkeen in east Donegal, had previously contested local elections last June but was not elected. Four of his colleagues were successful and now sit on local government bodies, giving the party a foothold in municipal affairs.

During the debate Ward highlighted the importance of ensuring that agricultural policy reflects the needs of small‑scale farmers and rural residents. He urged the Department to consider how Vote 30 could be implemented in a way that benefits communities such as those in Donegal, where agriculture remains a key part of the local economy.

The TD’s participation was recorded in the official Oireachtas debate transcript, which provides the full text of his contributions. For the complete record, see the Oireachtas archive.

Summary written by localnews.ie from the original source coverage. Click through for the full report.