Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State says the Government has no role in the market, but the Government absolutely has a role in ensuring our primary producers are protected in that market and that there is fairness and transparency across the supply chain. The €2 additional payment per ewe in the new sheep welfare scheme is clearly insufficient. It does not even cover the increase in costs sheep farmers have faced. The Minister of State mentioned other payments. He specifically mentioned ACRES. That is a payment for a service for farmers who do environmental works. That does not recognise whatsoever the particular challenges of sheep farmers. I welcome that the Minister of State says he is examining and exploring options to support farmers. I put it to him that one of those options must be the Brexit adjustment reserve fund, which has not been utilised sufficiently for farmers, who have been directly impacted by Brexit. Is that a route the Department is examining?

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