Johnny Brady (Meath, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the €150 million that the Minister has invested in the dairy, beef and sheep sectors. We all understand the importance of having a modern processing sector because this is an exporting country.

The small processing sector is an area about which I have been extremely concerned. I refer not only to small butchers but also to farmers going into other alternatives. These should be encouraged. There is a cheese factory in my constituency which has gone from strength to strength, and any assistance or help possible should be given to those who want to get involved in alternative types of farming.

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