Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Members of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association, including some from County Kerry, had to come here today to protest. They are demanding an urgent €50 million support package for sheep farmers to be funded from the Brexit reserve fund. They also want the sheep improvement scheme to be increased towards €30 per ewe and an extra €5 per ewe for the correct presentation of wool. Brexit brought untold turmoil to the sheep sector and the ramifications are still being felt to this day. The New Zealand lamb imports are a consequence of Brexit. The weakness of sterling since 2016 is a consequence of Brexit. The importation of half a million lambs a year into the State, in carcass form and live form, is a consequence of Brexit. All they are looking for is a package to be put together to allow them to survive and to allow them to be able to continue to make a living from being small sheep farmers predominantly, up and down the length and breadth of this country.

They are here demanding support and I would be very grateful if the Taoiseach could acknowledge that.

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