Mr. Pat Smith:

Progress could be made in three areas now and the good offices of the Deputies and Senators are required. The changes proposed on GLAS in recent weeks discriminate massively against the small, mixed sheep and dry stock sector and must be addressed. Part of the way to address it is for the Minister to allow 20,000 into GLAS rather than 7,000 to 10,000 extra. That would take some of the pressure off the system and it could be done now. The payments could be managed as we go forward, but that is a key priority.

The second thing that could be done at the stroke of a pen is sheep fencing. We must accept that it was a mistake. That could be done now. Knowledge transfer could be doubled up. Sheep farmers could enter two schemes in the past but now they can only enter one. There is a benefit for the industry. While it might not be the full payment, there should be an acceptance of the benefit of it and there should be a payment now. Those are three things that could be done now and that would show the 34,000 sheep farmers that the Government is interested in their industry. Another thing that could be done is that the Minister could make a commitment to the sheep industry that, as and when funds become available, it would be prioritised for a direct payment of €25 million.