Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein)
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There is a very good submission from the IFA. Other farming organisations have expressed concerns. This submission deals with the concerns expressed and makes some practical proposals. The IFA asserts that the main beneficiaries of this decision are the meat factories. It has brought to our attention a number of non-statutory charges imposed on farmers. I reaffirm the points made by Deputy Martin Kenny about the very low incomes of sheep farmers across the State. Some of the non-statutory charges are a scrapie levy which is 80 cent to €1.05 per ewe and an SRM levy of €1.27 to €1.30. These charges are additional to the departmental vet charge of 50 cent per head, the Bord Bia levy of 25 cent per head and the Sheep Ireland levy of 7 cent per head. What they are calling for is an instruction to the meat factories to abolish the non-statutory scrapie levy and the SRM levy imposed on sheep farmers at the factories. I would like a response from Mr. Carroll and Mr. Healy on that matter.

One of the big criticisms of the Department expressed by the farming organisations and sheep farmers is the lack of consultation. It is alarming that the Department announces something like this and consultation takes place afterwards. Why was there no consultation? Why did the Minister feel he had to invite the IFA and other farming organisations to make submissions and be involved in this matter?

The submission raises additional issues such as the underspend under the sheep welfare scheme. The submission asks about its reallocation. I assume Mr. Blake and Mr. Farrell have seen the submission. What is their response to it? The IFA also raises additional issues, including market access and animal welfare. Apparently, there is an issue for hill sheep farmers when it comes to EID tagging. The submission also states the Department has confirmed that it has no plans to introduce a full individual database for sheep identification purposes. I would like a response on that issue.