Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. It is good to hear that we have protocols at ports. The Minister alluded to North–South co-operation at ports like Larne. As we know, foot and mouth disease came in across the Border on the last occasion. There had been an outbreak in Meigh, south Armagh. It is very important, therefore that we have the protocols.

There was considerable co-operation back in 2001 from the families and farms of the Cooley peninsula. We worked very hard to make sure we saved the rest of the country from the foot and mouth outbreak. I do not believe there would be the same co-operation today if the disease were back in the Cooley Mountains, especially because some sheep farmers on the Cooley peninsula have still not received the same amount of money as other farmers received or were entitled to based on the value of their flocks. I have spoken to the Minister about this and really hope we can engage with the farming organisations and farmers on this. At the minute, we have a two-tier payment system for a 2001 scheme.

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