Beef compensation package
A protracted row followed over the €50 million EU beef compensation package, with Senator Conway-Walsh repeatedly asking what the conditions were and who would receive the money. The Leader insisted the Government had secured the fund, that consultation would follow, and accused her of misleading farmers.
Is Senator Conway-Walsh telling farmers that we should reject the €50 million from Brussels and should not take the money? Is that what she is saying to us?
Comment on this
I did not say that. The Leader is misrepresenting me.
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Senator Conway-Walsh knows full well that the Government went to Brussels and secured a €50 million compensation package from the European Commission.
Comment on this
I ask the Senator to go back to the farmers in Mayo and tell them that she does not want them to take the money. They will tell her where to go with that.
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On a point of order, I want to know what it will be used for-----
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The Leader is not answering the question.
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The European Commission has given us a Brexit compensation fund.
Comment on this
We will have a period of consultation until 31 July, when we will respond. The Government is awaiting the publication of the Commission's regulation. Consideration will be given to that, and the IFA is engaging with farmers across the country on the matter. The Government has put the case. It will have a response back and will do the right thing, as it has always done, for Irish farmers. I know that the Senator will join me in congratulating the Government on securing that money from Brussels. We will spend it wisely, as she knows.
Comment on this
Where is it? To whom is it going? We do not want it going to the Goodmans and others.