David Norris (Independent)

I wish to raise another matter concerning the decent sheep farmers outside Agriculture House. The Minister owes them a statement with regard to the situation pertaining to CAP and single farm payment funds he has received, which amount to approximately €23 million. There has been no indication he will help out the sheep farmers who are in a very difficult situation. He has perfect capacity to immediately make an announcement of €20 maintenance per ewe, and I ask him to do this.

We have seen the beet industry disappear completely. Beef is in trouble because of imports from Brazil. Cappoquin Chickens went down the drain. I do not know whether it has been resuscitated somehow. All areas of farm production seem to be vulnerable in this awful climate which is cataclysmic. People talk about meltdown, they say that it is unprecedented and that they do not know how to face it. The least we should do is secure good agricultural produce and the livelihoods of people who work in that area.