Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We put a massive effort into engaging and consulting. We never previously had such extensive consultation. There were many different views and I believe we reached a balanced and strong CAP plan. The mart meetings were very important. It had not been finalised at that stage; it fed into the finalisation of it. I visited 26 counties as part of that. We had a great engagement with the farmers who came along and contributed. There was great engagement from Oireachtas Members across all parties except the Deputy's. None of the county meetings I held had a Sinn Féin Oireachtas Member present. Many farmers, farm families and all the farming organisations were represented. Not once did a Sinn Féin Oireachtas Member turn up to those marts. At the very body where farm families come together to engage and discuss, the Deputy's party was entirely absent. I will not take any gyp from him on the consultation process.

The engagement now is with the Commission and it is important we have approval in place as soon as we can so that we can get these schemes up and running.

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