Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his kind wishes. I appreciate them and I too look forward to working constructively with him and the Minister of State, Senator Hackett.

Of course, the importance of the sector is well-known and that is always the first line. It is important and we should acknowledge it. However, the sector is under huge pressure. It has been seven weeks since the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association, ICSA, held a protest outside the House. I met sheep farmers that day who told me they are to the wall and they are still waiting seven weeks later. The question being posed is that there is a fund. I understand it is difficult to meet the criteria for that fund and to draw it down, but it has been done. We know that other sectors and processors have been able to avail of funding under it and it begs the question why the sheep sector cannot. There has been a loss of income, albeit I accept that prices have increased recently and that is welcome. The sector has had huge increases in input costs. There is a crisis in the wool sector for farmers. It is more expensive to sheer sheep than the price farmers will get for the wool and the impact of Brexit is clear. Will the Minister go to the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to seek funding under this fund?

See this speech in context