Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Will the Minister reflect on what was said at the committee last Tuesday by representatives of Teagasc and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation? They clearly outlined that the suckler cow welfare scheme is critical to meeting Food Harvest 2020 targets and to bringing the beef sector up to the same standard as the dairy sector. For this, if for no other reason, the scheme should be protected.

Deputy Ó Cuív mentioned the State agencies - Teagasc, Bord Bia, the Marine Institute, Bord Iascaigh Mhara - and the food aid development programme. The allocation to these under programme A amounts to €192 million. We need to closely examine how that is broken down and whether savings can be made.