Beef trade and schemes
Leyden criticised the value and pace of farm supports, and the exchange became heated with interventions from Norris and Nash about Leyden’s past beef deals. The Leader defended current rural and beef supports, but the debate drifted into repeated banter before concluding.
The valuation out there is hardly worth it. It is disastrous.
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All the Senator wants is for nothing to happen so that he can come in here and whinge every day.
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No. When I was a Minister of State with responsibility for trade, I used to sell beef to places that could afford to buy it.
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It is a pity that the Senator was not kept on.
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Unfortunately, that was a loss for the State.
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I am glad that Senator Norris came to my assistance. I was about to say that as well.
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I said that it was a pity Senator Leyden had sold beef to Iran and left the Irish taxpayer to pay the bill.
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It is called "Islamic Republic of Iran", by the way.
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We sold to Iraq as well. We were very fair.
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We will not go back over the beef tribunal. I am sure the Senator will want to discuss that, too.
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I suppose Senator Leyden supported Mr. Philip Reynolds on the radio last Saturday, although he was probably busy at the Ard-Fheis and did not hear him.
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Perhaps the Senator should recognise that the Government is investing €300 million under the rural redevelopment programme to support the suckler sector. As the Senator rightly stated yesterday, there is a pilot scheme for suckler farmers worth €20 million specifically aimed at further improving the carbon efficiency of beef production. Besides the €20 million for the beef environmental efficiency pilot, BEEP, there is the €300 million under the beef data and genomics programme, €23 million for the areas of natural constraint scheme and further schemes that will invest significant amounts of money. The Senator can throw his eyes to heaven all he wants, but at least this Government is investing. He should acknowledge that. Of course, he will not do so, which is his wont.
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Do not go that far. I am fairer than fair.
Last October it announced that it took four months to be implemented. That is real efficiency.