Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In recent days, more than 1,000 farmers across the country have attended meetings on the new beef genomics scheme, which is causing absolute chaos at present. Could I ask the Minister whether, in the context of No. 50 on the Order Paper, namely, statements on Common Agricultural Policy reform, we can have an emergency discussion in the House? Suckler farmers are being squeezed out of existence due to the red tape and complexity of the new scheme. The closing date for the scheme is next Friday week. We need clarity on the matter. The Minister must come to the House to make amendments to the scheme in order to make it workable, because agricultural specialists across the country could not fathom many of the provisions in the scheme, not to mind suckler farmers throughout the country.

Urgent action is needed on this and I hope we can have a debate on it tonight.

See this speech in context