Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Browne for his question. Income volatility is a significant issue for farmers, particularly in recent years. The industry is turning its attention to the issue and needs to do so in order to provide tools to the farming community that are practical and that work. The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, ICOS and the ICMSA have put forward proposals on ways to set aside and then equalise income over a number of years. I met those organisations recently to discuss their proposals and my Department is engaging on this in the context of budget discussions. Obviously I cannot give any commitment now on how that will work out but it is certainly being very closely examined.