Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It would be generous to describe the supports given to Irish farmers during this crisis as pathetic. Today, the Minister referred to schemes from other Departments. He spoke about providing money to farmers to which they were entitled anyway but just that little bit sooner. He also spoke about the reliance on the EU package of €76 million. That package has been already described here as inadequate. I would go so far as to say that it is nothing short of an insult to our family farmers. That package should be compared to the support from the US Administration which comes to €27 billion. Christ knows that Administration has got much wrong. There are only 2 million farmers across the United States when there are 10.5 million in the EU. It is clear there is a greater commitment to the future of agriculture across the Atlantic.

The farmers I have spoken to were absolutely stunned by the inadequacy of the EU package. Farmers were also shocked to hear the Minister state he welcomed this response from the European Commission. I accept he went on to say it would probably need to go further. Many farmers have said to me, however, that the response of the Minister and the Government to the EU package was as pathetic as the package itself.

Considering that it is clear the EU is not likely to provide the type of package as quickly as is required, will the Government work to deliver a domestic scheme that actually provides funding directly to those farmers who need it urgently and desperately? Will the Minister do that as quickly as possible?

My second question relates again to the beef sector. It has been mentioned here already that during last year's protests many beef farmers were already on their knees. This coronavirus emergency has really made a bad situation worse. In the midst of this, we hear stories of the meat industry actually importing foreign beef into Irish factories. I have asked in writing for the Minister to intervene in that situation but he has refused saying these are commercial decisions. Whatever about intervening, will the Minister publicly condemn the actions of those factories which have been importing beef when prices given to Irish farmers are on the floor? Will he contact the factory owners to ask them to cease this practice? This is not about protectionism. This is about having a quality product in Ireland. It does not make any sense from a patriotic point of view for factories to be doing this.

Finally, I want a simple "Yes" or "No" answer to this question. Will the Minister and his Department consider providing a compensation scheme for those poultry farmers who have experienced culls as a result of bird 'flu outbreaks? These are farmers who have suffered devastating losses in recent days and weeks due to an occurrence against which they cannot insure. In the absence of an insurance scheme, the Government needs to provide support.

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