Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. Given the income crisis in all sectors, whatever the Government or the Department does, it must try to get the available funding to inside the farm gate. That is essential. Deputy McConalogue made points on the beef genomics scheme. Regarding the beef discussion groups, consider the restrictions and the requirement that one must sell cattle to factories to qualify for payment.

All those bullet points need to be re-examined to allow the maximum number of farmers to benefit.

While the Minister was waiting outside we heard from representatives of the horticulture and mushroom sectors about the huge difficulties in those sectors and the tillage sector generally. How will all these issues be addressed?

Currently there is a delay in payments from the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, and a huge cashflow pressure on farmers. They have returned all their paperwork to Johnstown Castle but still there is no sign of the payment coming through.

Another point that has been made to me is about the restoration of the full level of funding under the areas of natural constraints scheme, that is, the old disadvantaged areas scheme. It is essential that we get the level of funding back up. We have projected into the future when this funding will be restored. We need it restored immediately. That would be a simple way of getting funding back for farmers in the most disadvantaged areas in the country.

I am looking at the allocations to Bord Bia in the scheme. We have heard about the problems in the mushroom sector today, which were very well presented to us. There is no focus at the moment on the challenges that might be facing the beef sector. Some 50% of our cattle are still going to the UK. We fought for a generation to keep south American cattle from finding their way onto the European market. A decision was taken in the UK in the past couple of months and it can now do a trade deal without any hindrance from the rest of the European Union. It is not when that happens that we should be considering the implications of it. The ball will fall in Bord Bia's court if pressure comes on that market to identify alternative markets for cattle. We had the first shipment of cattle to Turkey in the past couple of weeks. That we have only one boat available to take cattle live out of the country is a huge encumbrance. We need to focus on our live export trade. I suggest Bord Bia would need more funding so that, if the UK tries to source beef from south America, we are not in a position like that of the horticulture and mushroom men who were here with us an hour or so ago and whose industry is in complete crisis.

The Minister spoke about the cessation scheme. I did not fully understand what he was saying when he spoke about the funding coming from it, the number of farmers who had applied and that it looks like only the first tranche will be taken up. With the recent couple of cents a litre rise in the price of milk, I do not know if one in four will participate in the scheme, but that is probably an argument for another day. My understanding is that that funding is completely separate from the €11 million we have spoken about. I thought the two funds were-----