Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Talking about measures the Minister is introducing for farmers and debating them in the Dáil does not put bread on any farmer's table. I refer to the two schemes the Minister mentioned as providing tremendous support, in his view, to the beef sector, namely, the beef environmental efficiency pilot, which was announced in last year's budget, and BEAM, which was announced prior to the local elections, for losses experienced from last September until May. Not one euro has yet been paid from either of these two schemes to farmers, yet the Minister stands here and tells us about the great job he is doing in providing financial support to farmers.

First and foremost, it is time for the Minister to step up to the mark and deliver on the commitments made previously and ensure that the funding goes to farmers, considering the massive losses they have experienced over recent months. Second, will the Minister commit to ensuring there is funding to cover losses incurred from May until now, a period during which farmers have lost money hand over fist and in respect of which no support from the Government, which is very badly needed, has been forthcoming?

See this speech in context