Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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70. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 71 of 17 July 2022, the status of the establishment of the wool council; if the promised €30,000 for initial set-up costs has been drawn down to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53219/22]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Following the publication of the review of market opportunities for Irish-grown wool-based products carried out for the Department by the Agile Executive on 1 July, much later than promised but we got it, which was welcome, what is the status of the establishment of the wool council? Has the €30,000 that was promised by the Department been taken up and how much of it has been drawn down? More generally, will the Minister of State give a statement on the matter?

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Senator Pippa Hackett):

I thank the Deputy for her continued interest in this matter. As she outlined, an independently compiled review of the wool sector, which was a programme for Government commitment, was conducted and published in July. The review contained findings and recommendations, including potential funding streams, market opportunities for wool and multiple areas for additional research and development. One of main recommendations of the review was the establishment of an independent wool council, which was widely welcomed by all stakeholders. The council will be industry-led and contain multiple stakeholders from the wool sector including primary producers, farmers and commercial enterprises. Once established, it is intended the council will lead the development and promotion of Irish wool both domestically and internationally. It will also act as a forum to bring together multiple stakeholders to foster collaboration, innovation and the scaling of activities in the wool sector.

I am fully supportive of the establishment of this independent, industry-led wool council, which can use the findings of the wool review as a roadmap to develop pathways towards maximising the true potential of Irish wool. I understand stakeholders in the wool industry have taken the initial steps towards the formation of the council. Once it has been established, my Department will commit to providing €30,000 in financial assistance towards the initial set-up costs. Given that has not happened, there has been no drawdown of the funds as yet but it is my hope the report and the council can help chart a roadmap for the industry to help drive increased returns for the great and sustainable product that is wool.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I do not how we can turn a good news story into a bad one. The possibilities of what we could do with wool are all set out in this report, which is quite good in parts but in others, if you will excuse the bad pun, is quite woolly. It is both concise and good as well as being vague, but it is not vague on the recommendations, one of which relates to a wool council. Nothing has happened since the report, which was delayed, was published. It is now almost November and still there is no wool council.

What about all the other recommendations? Have the Government and the Minister of State examined the possibilities and the recommendations that were set out, aside from the establishment of a wool council, such as the creation of an apprenticeship model for the wool sector, data collection, a feasibility study, the establishment of wool co-operatives and so on?

There is a major role here for the Government in terms of the possibilities for the use of wool for everything from fertilisers to insulation. I would like to know what the Minister of State is doing with regard to this good news story.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Senator Pippa Hackett):

I totally agree with the Deputy that there is much potential in wool. It is not fair to say that nothing has happened, however. After the study was completed, it was over to the sector itself to establish a wool council. It is not for the Department or for me to establish that. That was one of the most significant parts, the establishment of the wool council. However, I receive a letter from representatives of a group of stakeholders seeking to form the wool council. I responded to them requesting that they engage with farm organisations, which had not been the case, to ensure the sector's primary producers are represented on the wool council. That is essential.

Certainly, we have also committed to putting aside supports for research into what wool can be used for. There are a number of potential uses, some of which the Deputy indicated. First and foremost, it is essential that we get this wool council established. As I said, however, it is now up to be industry itself and the stakeholders involved. It is not an issue for the Department to set up.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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It certainly is an issue for the Department and for the Government. One of the things that is lacking is a well-framed policy roadmap. That must be done by the Government and by the Minister. Previous questions have been asked with regard to fishing and task forces. Where is the task force with regard to the wool industry and the potential that is there? The possible uses include horticultural packaging, insulation, textiles, cosmetics, field products and composites. I am only listing out some of them.

The Government carried out a report that cost €100,000 and then left it sitting there, waiting for the industry to do something. The clearest thing about wool is that the farmers are simply not getting the prices. The key economic concern for producers is that the price achieved for farmers is less than the cost of shearing. We know this. We now have a report that cost €100,000. We have set aside €30,000. We are going to do a Pontius Pilate on it and say it is absolutely nothing to do with us, and that we will wait for the council to be set up and ignore all the other recommendations. However, the best part is the wonderful opportunity for local industry.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Senator Pippa Hackett):

I can assure the Deputy that we are not forgetting about any of the recommendations in the wool feasibility study. It is of precedence that we get the wool council established, which is what we are endeavouring to do. As I said at the start, however, it is not for the Department to establish it. It has to be industry-led and that was the agreement.

I know full well about the price of wool. I am a sheep farmer myself. Market forces and market demand unfortunately dictate the price of wool and it is, unfortunately, at a terribly low baseline price. The price at the moment really is quite appalling. When it is established, however, the wool council is where we will have the opportunity to explore that and have a collective voice to reach out and seek out the opportunities for wool. The sooner the council is established, the better. I will certainly try to urge the stakeholders to get that established as quickly as possible.