Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I know the challenge the sheep sector is facing and how tight it has become in the past number of months. The situation has changed significantly for them. As I said in reply to Deputy Fitzmaurice, I am monitoring it closely. I am engaging closely with Bord Bia on what is happening in the market and what we can do. I am looking at the situation closely. There is not anything in the pipeline as things stand but I take on board the Deputy’s feedback and the feedback I am getting from many other Oireachtas Members. I am assessing the situation closely.

On sheep farmers, the fodder scheme, which I introduced last year, delivered up to €1,000 per farm family and under which I made a forward payment on at the end of last December, was important for them. The Deputy raised the issue on ACRES. The vast majority of sheep farmers have applied for that. If we can accommodate all 46,000 of those and deliver a payment under the scheme to those farmers and sheep farmers this year, many of whom will be able to get up to the €7,000 and have built a payment around that, it would be significant and important as well. Those are two key issues for them. I take on board the point the Deputy made on the market situation and the feedback he gave me on the pressure there.