Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy also made commentary about the store lamb trade. My understanding based on the advice available to me is that on the contrary the store lamb trade is quite strong at the moment.

He referred to the decimation of the suckler herd. I do not know what his definition of decimation is. I acknowledge there has been a reduction in the suckler herd. The greatest reductions came in counties Cork, Waterford, Carlow and Kilkenny. I think Carlow was the top county in number. In some instances I suspect it was because of migration from dual enterprises to an entirely dairy enterprise. In other instances people just moved from one enterprise to another.

The reduction of 6% or 7% in the most recent figures I saw does not constitute decimation. I acknowledge that issues arise regarding the Common Agricultural Policy and how best to support the industry in future and I am open to engaging on those issues. It is important, however, that we base the debate on facts.

The general issue of factories has arisen several times. The Department has been warned numerous times by the Competition Authority that it has no function in that regard. I will just make the point - the position is somewhat different on the dairy side because most of the dairy processors are owned by farmers - that there is a symbiotic relationship between the beef factories and beef farmers. They need each other and people should be aware of that in the context of the current difficulties.

On supports, the point has been made about the early payments but we have also provided an additional €25 million for the disadvantaged areas scheme for payment this year. That should be beneficial in the Deputy's constituency. We have also skewed that payment deliberately in favour of those on more marginal land. That should deliver.

The Deputy also asked why there was not earlier movement on low input permanent pasture. The reason was that we did not want to jeopardise the payment, for which €85 million is available. We wanted first to secure the payment and then liberate the land for additional fodder production. It would have been a shallow victory if the land had been released from the regulations but farmers had not been paid. The payment for that option is worth approximately €85 million. I think that covers most-----