Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Crowe. On the fair deal scheme, the Bill is due to come before Dáil Éireann this term. The objective is to have it in place and operational by summertime.

I have recently published the consultation on the new agri-environment scheme, which is closing on 26 February. Already there have been some 1,000 replies to the consultation. I would encourage all farmers to engage and give their views to help inform the nature of the scheme and ensure it is as practical as possible for farmers to implement, while also ensuring that we have output at the end of it for achieving the environmental objectives of the scheme.

With regard to downward prices, I am working on that and will be doing a public consultation shortly, as well as establishing a food ombudsman to try to bring additional price transparency into the food supply chain and to try to ensure farmers get a fair crack of the whip with margins.

On the Deputy's other point, my key objective is to try to support farm incomes. I achieved an 11% increase in the most recent budget for this year so we can support farm schemes. The Deputy mentioned the €100 million for the processing sector. That will be over five years, which is €20 million per year. It will be up to a maximum of 30% of grant aid. It is about trying to ensure a sector that looks at new products and can add value, ultimately with the objective of maximising the value at farm gate and the return to farmers for their primary produce.

See this speech in context