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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Sheep farmers' emergency support

Summary

Deputy Kerrane said sheep farmers were in severe financial hardship and called for a better payment and an emergency package from Brexit reserve funds. The Tánaiste said he would revert to the Minister and acknowledged sheep farmers were finding conditions difficult.

I spoke to a number of sheep farmers outside the Houses this week. They came here seeking action from the Tánaiste's Government to save their sector. Sheep farmers in Roscommon, Galway and across the State are experiencing real financial hardship and have described the €12 per ewe delivered by the Minister as an insult. It clearly needs to be increased. The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association, ICSA, has called for an emergency package to be funded through the Brexit adjustment reserve fund. Sheep farmers are at the coalface with respect to the consequences of Brexit and are also now seeing hundreds of thousands of lambs being imported, including from New Zealand. Every single farm input has increased for them as well. This all comes back to the farmer not getting a fair price for their produce. They need greater support from this Government. Will the Tánaiste ask his Minister to engage with the ICSA to provide additional support to this sector?

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Senator McGreehan raised the same issue at our parliamentary party meeting yesterday evening. I will revert to the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, as the Deputy has raised it here, but to be fair to him he has, over his term, responded consistently to different issues as they have arisen in particular sectors of the food production system. Clearly, sheep farmers are finding the going difficult right now and a range of factors are responsible for that. The Minister will respond.

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