I ask the Government to consider a new beef exceptional aid measures, BEAM, scheme to support beef finishers and beef farmers. They are facing catastrophic losses bringing their product to market because of falling prices at factory gates and reduced demand on the Continent due to Covid.

In addition, they are dealing with rising input prices for fertiliser and meat supplements. A frozen pizza in a supermarket, by weight, sells for more than Irish beef cuts, which is a tragedy for beef farmers. Will the Minister please look at introducing a beef exceptional aid measure scheme and for urgent action from the beef task force to try to get visibility on the pricing and supply chain?

The Deputy would say that I would say this but my colleague, the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, has just opened up the organic scheme. Approximately 500 or 600 farmers will be able to go into it. I mention it because I think that is the future for Irish farming, especially beef and lamb. It offers the prospect of reducing the input costs and increasing the price that we get on the market, which I understand to be patently clear, since one can see the price of one versus the other. Our food strategy is coming close to fruition now. I believe that it is in the interest of farmers to go in this green way because it is the best way of guaranteeing a price.

Will it offset losses to farmers-----

I ask the Deputy to sit down. The time for the question is over.

On a point of order, the scheme is not open-----

That is not a point of order.

The details are not even available yet. How could it be opened?

That is not a point of order. There can be no more response to that.