Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

We have entered discussions on the scheme with all farming bodies. I have met representatives from each of the three main organisations at least once and my officials have met them on a number of occasions. They agree that the costs had to be taken out of the system. The scheme was introduced to deal with the severe difficulties we were experiencing in respect of BSE and it was never intended to put it on a permanent basis. Significant amounts of taxpayer funding has been spent on it and, thankfully, the incidence of disease in this country has reduced dramatically. I commend the officials in my Department and the farming community on achieving our current high level of disease prevention.

The costs were excessive and had to be reduced. They already have been reduced substantially. We have facilitated some companies in getting licences to supply product to Northern Ireland and I hope for further engagement with collectors, knackeries and renderers with a view to making prices competitive.

See this speech in context