Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. My understanding, if it is the same issue, is that it arose prior to the budget and the then Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, advised that, as we say in Irish, níl aon dul as. There was no way to deal with it other than to bring in new measures because of European Union monitoring and what it had assessed in terms of the existing scheme. I accept it is challenging for the broiler farmers but I am not clear there is an alternative pathway. I will bring the matter to the attention of the Minister for Finance. Sometimes in the implementation of new measures there can be space to see if anything can be done. I will talk to the Minister for Finance in respect of the issue.

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