Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I was at the meeting in Maam Cross and the slides shown to us at that meeting indicated that in that situation a farmer's obligation would be to put 3.3 sheep, say four sheep, on the commonage. If all the farmers must put up four sheep, they will have to chase the four sheep around the 1,000 acres of mountain in order to dip them, shear them etc. In the meantime, those who had significant flocks of 100 or 150 sheep - a viable amount - on the hill, must destock dramatically if other farmers take up the option being forced on them by the Department. Then everybody on the hill will wind up with an unviable flock. This is what the Minister is doing here. Deputy Kyne explained this to the Minister in his gentle way and it is the nub of the issue.

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