Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for facilitating this debate. First, we must give our condolences to the families of those people who have died over the past month or six weeks. I also thank the farming community right around the country and across Europe for keeping the flag flying, as well as those who process produce. People who were once kicking the daylights out of farmers should now appreciate what they have done in this time of crisis.

I have a few questions for the Minister. My understanding is that Europe has agreed that the single farm payment or basic payment scheme, BPS, will roll over for a year or possibly two years. Is that set in stone yet? If so, will other schemes such as GLAS and the environmental scheme be rolled over as well until we have the new package in place, especially in light of Brexit and the current situation?

The rules in the EU at present seem to be that one can give state aid or help out in situations. The rule book has been basically torn up fairly well in the line of rules and regulations throughout Europe. I heard a question that was down to the Minister earlier. A few years ago, where France's computer system had glitched in a scheme similar to the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS, they paid the money out of the exchequer to the farmers and then recouped it when it came back. Are we considering doing anything for the farming community in the line of bringing the payments forward, taking it out of the national Exchequer, which by the way we are allowed do, and taking it back when it comes in the envelop from Europe?

On a beef exceptional aid measure, BEAM, scheme, we had a conference where each representative talked to the Minister and his officials a few weeks ago. Cattle prices are at 340c/kg at present. Sheep prices are dropping. I think it is €15 per lamb today. Is there a scheme being brought up by the Department to try and put life into this? The intervention or cuts that are going may help, but the figures that Europe has given would be spent by the Minister in Ireland, never mind what 26 or 27 countries will do, in a week. It was a derisory amount of money in the whole-of-Europe effort when one considers what we would produce, be it in milk, beef or sheep. Will we do something to help those farmers?

On the Covid-19 payment, I want to be clear on whether someone who is not working somewhere else and is only a farmer can get it. My other question relates to the plants around the country. Has the Department figures for the numbers of people who have been in isolation or confirmed cases, and what does the Minister intend to do if the shutdown continues for the next few weeks, on the seven-month areas of natural constraints, ANC, scheme? I had more questions but I want to let Deputy McNamara go.

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