Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In view of the fact that I have tabled a similar question on this matter, I welcome the opportunity to come in. Everybody accepts that wool has the potential to be a valuable resource. It was certainly treated as a valuable resource in the past and there are many uses which it can be put to which it was put to in the past and also many exciting new uses, for example, around insulation. At the moment, it is a hindrance. It is a nuisance. It is almost valueless, as it stands, until the Minister of State's wool council proceeds with its work and until markets are developed.

Farmers just want to get sheep sheared at present. The wool is almost worthless to them and it is discarded. In order to ensure that sheep are sheared in a way that preserves wool in such a way that it can be utilised, surely certain measures will have to be put in place. I refer, for example, to the introduction of a contribution in respect of the cost of shearing. Are there any plans to do that? Are there any plans to make sure that wool is presented in an optimum way in order that it will retain whatever value it has?

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