Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----Navan and in the west of Ireland in Carrick-on-Shannon, and that picture was abundantly clear. It would be incorrect to dwell too much on the dairy figures as it is not that long ago since dairy prices were below the cost of production. The sector had quite a good year last year and volatility is something that must be managed. I accept the point that sheep and cattle rearing in particular are highly marginal enterprises. With the last CAP up to 2020 there was a redistributive effort put into payments that will see in the region of €100 million move from those with a higher per hectare payment to those below the average payment. It is inevitable that there will be a continuation of that trend of redistribution. If we are serious about valuing not just the economic output of those farms but also the potential they have to contribute public goods in terms of biodiversity, water quality, etc., the trend will continue in the next CAP.

If Deputy Scanlon wishes to bring the case he mentioned to my attention, I will have the matter investigated.

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