Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will address the issue of the sheep sector. Mr. O'Toole mentioned the difficulties in that sector. Stakeholders, including sheep farmers, have made representations to us. They are worried about the number of sheep coming from Northern Ireland, and from the UK into Northern Ireland, into the Republic. Welsh lamb producers always had the French market as a primary target. It is stated that imports of New Zealand lamb into the UK have increased and that Scottish and Welsh lamb is finding its way to southern processors. Does Bord Bia have figures on that? Is it an accurate assessment of the situation? Is that one of the reasons for the depressed price for sheep here at present? We pride ourselves on Origin Green. How can we verify that any lamb being killed here is Irish lamb?