Pat Moylan (Fianna Fail)

I wish to mention improvements. I recognise the grant aid provided by the Minister for Agriculture and Food and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for the farmers in the Shannon basin area, the callows, who are protecting the corncrake. The Ministers came to an agreement with the IFA on aid for that area which shows we are prepared to protect our environment and wildlife.

We must welcome grant aid for the suckler herd, which encourages proper farming practice and conditions. There may well be some areas on which people disagree, for example, dehorning or debudding of calves. Some farmers say the three-week period is too short and it should be extended to five or six weeks. However, the job must be done within a fixed timeframe.

I also commend the grant aid for the replacement of breeding stock which will encourage farmers to develop proper breeding stock. Many farmers have stock they would like to replace and the grant aid will be welcome. Aid for training is also welcome as training in the farming area must be ongoing.

With regard to dry stock, I hope the Minister will give attention to the sheep sector. There may well be a need for assistance in this area. Unless farmers were very early with their lambs over recent years, their gains were trimmed.