Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the gentlemen for their presentation. The sheep sector has always lost out under Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, reforms. When there were problems with the suckler herd, the Minister tried to keep people in that business, for example, by introducing genomic schemes, etc. In the EU, unfortunately, one cannot get money for nothing. The only possible approach is a payment coupled to improvements in quality, breeding, etc. The IFA might suggest a scheme in that regard.

Technically, the €3 million reduction is still in the sheep industry, as it was invested in the sheep technology unit. I have examined the figures. The IFA asserts there are 34,000 sheep farmers in Ireland, with a little more than 3,500 participating in the sheep technology programme. In other words, 30,000 people are not benefiting from the €3 million. The IFA must devise a scheme, after which it will be for us to lobby the Minister through this committee or so on to ensure people stay in sheep production. Numbers are decreasing. If we are to reach the Harvest 2020 targets, the sheep industry must be a part of the overall picture. An improved breeding scheme or the like could justify the payment.