Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If the Deputy was paying attention to the budget last October, he would have seen that I delivered an 11% increase in the agriculture budget for the year ahead, based on the previous year. That was so that we can ensure that many of the schemes that are key to our farming sector can continue at full capacity and with ongoing payments. There was also an additional €79 million of fresh funding allocated in order to develop a new environmental pilot scheme and measures. As the Deputy knows, I am very committed to developing and protecting the incomes of our beef sector and to working with and supporting our fishermen. Looking ahead, over the course of this year, I will be bringing additional transparency to the food supply chain and developing the office of the National Food Ombudsman, which is a key commitment in the programme for Government.

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