Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank both witnesses for coming in and for their presentation. The BAR has been talked about a lot but I will come back to it briefly. The eligible period will end on 31 December 2023 so three months are left. We know €115 million remains in that fund and approval has been given to move the BAR to the REPowerEU fund, which will take it totally away from the impacts of Brexit and what it was set up to do initially. Does the ICSA have a figure for what is needed as regards emergency funding or what it is looking for in that regard? Does it know what the actual physical mechanics of the process are in going to Europe to seek that money? That is the part I cannot seem to get an answer to. When I raised this with the Minister, he said it was about whether the case could be made, but the ICSA has made the case as regards the impact of New Zealand and the deal done with England, in addition to the exchange rate.

Something else seems to be going on here in that money from the BAR for Bord Bia to promote the organic sector has been announced twice now. Where does that link to the impact of Brexit? I feel that something else is going on. I would like to hear the witnesses' thoughts on how we move this along. We now have three months. The deal is done. The BAR is going back to Europe into REPowerEU so time is of the essence. We have raised this issue with the Minister. I have raised it with him numerous times and the response is, "What's the case?". The ICSA has made the case. If the representatives have a figure and know what the actual process is, we can try to see whether there is a way to move this on. We have three months to do it and then that is it.

On the sheep improvement scheme, and there is an issue with the money that is available, only half of sheep farmers have applied for it in the first place. It was said the scheme was not fit for purpose. I know the ICSA is not happy with the amount and of course that is an issue. However, is there more to it than that as regards why sheep farmers are not applying for the scheme?

We have huge potential in respect of wool. Insulation is just one example. As we have to insulate every house in the country, the potential is massive. How much potential does wool have in terms of actually bringing it back? That is what it is about; it is not a new phenomenon. The potential in it is huge.

Is there potential for more in the US market?

I do not know what talks are going on in relation to any of that but I would appreciate any information the witnesses have. Bord Bia is given €3.5 million to promote it and the witnesses say this is not enough. I presume the figure for promoting beef is much higher.