Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I will ask a few questions before I go to Deputy Carthy. On the €22 million the Minister said will not be received until next year, what is the reason for the Commission's decision to delay the funding?

On the tillage scheme, how many hectares qualified in 2022? How many new hectares have gone into the scheme? Does the Minister plan to incentivise the same acreage in 2023 to try to incentivise people who have gone into tillage for the first time to continue to grow the crops? It was only for fresh land in 2023. I do not know how much more fresh land will be available. We will still be in the same situation with Ukraine in the spring and we do not know what the summer will bring in 2023. Does the Minister envisage allowing the same number of hectares to be applicable again in 2023?

The Minister used the phrase "buoyant output prices" regarding TB, which might be a bit strong. Prices have improved or are higher than they were in any event. The number of reactors per breakdown is increasing, which I accept fully. However, much of that is due to Department policy. When there are reactors, officials go in immediately for a blood test, which is definitely increasing the number of reactors per herd. That approach could also help get people out of lockdown quicker. I am not objecting to the policy but where there are breakdowns, the fact that the Department has a more intensive testing regime is definitely finding reactors faster.

There must be a focus on testing badgers and wildlife for TB. We saw a report from another committee on the cost of TB. We need to put extra resources into testing wildlife. I am aware of a farmer who found a dead badger the other day and no one in the Department was interested in doing a post-mortem examination. Finding a dead badger is worrying for any farmer. If we are serious about trying to meet our targets for reducing or eradicating TB, we must focus on wildlife. When a farmer reports an incident such as this, there has to be some collaboration with the Department and testing of animals found on a farm. There can be no argument that badgers and deer are a major contributory factor to TB. I would like much greater focus on the TB budget. We must be proactive as regards wildlife.

The forestry programme has been announced and grants have increased significantly. Forestry will be competing in a very competitive environment for land supply for afforestation. We will have to see how the new premiums measure up. The fact that the scheme has been extended to 20 years is definitely an attraction for farmers. That must be welcomed. The committee has focused strongly on forestry and there are still significant challenges in meeting the 8,000 ha afforestation annual target in the programme for Government. I texted the Minister today about ash dieback. This issue must be addressed in the forestry strategy. While this is a separate issue and we are talking about planning for the future, ash dieback should also be addressed in the near future.

The Minister referred to increased funding for the Irish National Stud and Gardens and noted that its star stallion is no longer active. This is a very competitive environment. I understand the national stud does other things besides operating a horse stud programme. The Government should support its many other activities. This is a competitive industry and this country has many of the top stallions in the world standings, be that in national hunt or flat racing. Is the national stud in a position to be able to compete in that competitive environment? Would it be better to focus on other aid for the industry, for example, welfare, improvements in horse breeding etc? Has the time come for the national stud to examine whether it can compete as an active commercial stud with standing stallions? I read today that competition for nomination for some of the top stallions is huge. For people in the horse industry, the national hunt foal sale is taking place and there is a very strong market there. Perhaps a strategic examination of the national stud is needed to identify what part it has to play in the industry. I fully accept that it has an important part to play but perhaps not as regards horses' standing. In the past, it had good fortune and good judgment, both of which probably go together in acquiring very good stallions. It might be hard to do that going forward.

On the growth and sustainability loan scheme, it is very welcome to see money being made available to the agrifood sector. This is a very good development. What rate of interest will be charged on those loans and who will determine it? We are in an environment of interest rate increases across the sector. How will the rate of interest for this scheme be set? Those are just a few observations and questions.