Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I understand that of the 7,000 or so registered breeders, 70% to 80% have only two or three mares. Many of them are small farmers. Would it not be far more equitable if breeders were to pay the foal levy based on the invoice price, that is, the actual cost of covering the mare, rather than the advertised price? The latter might be two or three times greater than what a small breeder is able to negotiate with a stallion owner. Moreover, such a change would be in line with other aspects of agricultural enterprise where levies are paid on invoice or sale price.

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