Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)

I am glad to see that the Minister's backbench colleagues are coming in to support her. It is either that Deputies Upton and Crawford and I are doing a good job or there is a lack of communication within the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party — I do not know which is the case.

We all agree on the need for reform within the processing sector in this country and I hope these funds will spur on such reform. The concern I would have in that regard is that clear criteria were not laid down on the structure under which these funds will be distributed. I am afraid this could end up being a lost opportunity. I genuinely hope I am wrong in that regard, but I have concerns about the structure of the dairy fund and I hope clear criteria on the meat processing funds, both in sheepmeat and beef, will be laid down to ensure that the maximum reform possible will take place. What is the current status of the Malone report recommendations on the sheep industry, which is close to my heart, and when will they be implemented?

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