Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Today I call for a debate on the sheep sector. I have stood in this House on many occasions and discussed the failing sheep sector and how sheep farmers are crying out for support. For instance, in 2022 we exported sheep meat to 35 different countries, €476 million worth of sheep to factories. Yet the net returns for sheep farmers fell by 81%. Costs of production are going up and margins are clearly reducing. We really need to improve the sheep welfare scheme. I raised a Commencement matter with the Minister a couple of months ago on increasing the sheep welfare scheme payments. It is only €12 per sheep and needs to be increased by a minimum of €30. We need the wool council and we need to be able to ensure that farmers are able to look after their sheep. We also need to be able to ensure that their wool, which is a sustainable product, has a market that and that it is being sold for what it is worth and what it should be sold for. We need an increased export plan. We also need to protect sheep from dogs. We have an absolutely lackadaisical approach to looking after sheep in relation to sheep kills. We really need to move on that very quickly. We have 35,000 sheep farming families in the country and it is about time that both of these Houses started to stand up and listen to the sheep sector. It has been ignored for too long.