Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is no mass exodus here. I would like to reassure farmers that this is a really good scheme. In ten or 15 years it will prove to be one of the most innovative schemes that has ever been introduced in any European country in terms of upgrading the genetics of a herd and providing farmers with more and more accurate scientific information about better breeding programmes. It is a huge income support for beef farmers. Most importantly, it will improve the quality of our herd which means cattle will grow faster and have better conformation and fertility rates. They will make more money for farmers and will produce fewer emissions in their lifetimes.

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