Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister glossed over the suckler cow issue and the necessity or possibility of doing something about payment in the upcoming budget. I ask him to flesh out a bit further where the Department is with regard to achieving something and working towards the €200 payment per suckler cow or at least getting the process started. As the Minister will be aware, the sector is under massive pressure and farmers are looking in this budget for a signal that the Government understands where they are, understands the income pressure they are under, and will move to deliver something for them. I emphasise the importance of the Minister taking that on board and pushing it with the Minister for Finance to try to achieve an allocation in this budget in order that something can be done and there can be some type of margin delivered to the suckler farmers. It is simply not sustainable that they will continue in business but not get paid for their work.