Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Would I be correct in saying that there is no point talking about a Brexit fund for the simple reason that for the next six, eight, and perhaps ten months, the pig sector is going to go through a wobbly enough time. After that, the projections are looking fairly good. Teagasc predicted that will happen in February of next year. Whether it is the Brexit fund or a bank, applicants have to be able to show that they will make some money that year. It is governed by Central Bank rules, even though the Government will be backing it up, in fairness. Applicants have to have a business plan or they will not get the money. We have to go with the stability fund. Basically, there is no other choice, or else the sector will be in serious trouble.

Mr. Cullinan spoke about Bord Bia. What new markets have we got? We know that Brexit has been going on for a good few years and we know the dangers involved. What new markets have we got over the past few years? There is another side to the pig sector. There are merchants that supply a lot of meal, to put it simply. Obviously, the credit that some of them give to the pig producers will be getting tighter for the simple reason that they cannot withstand everything with the way the price of meal has gone. Where is the IFA seeing the problems there?

As has been pointed out, no more than the BEAM scheme, farmers' hands are nearly tied behind their backs with all these requirements that when they are given a few pounds, they have to reduce by X amount. Some of the pig producers to whom I have spoken have basically put the sows back in banbh again, to put it simply. According to the IFA's calculations, or maybe those calculations are not available, is there much of that going on? Are the representatives of the IFA meeting the Department again? If we can agree to do so, I recommend that send something today to the Minister to ask him to urgently address this issue. In fairness, the pig producers that I have talked to are pretty desperate at the moment. They need support.