Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the cessation of blockades at meat processing factories throughout the country. It is important and timely that this has happened. The factories are now free to return to slaughtering cattle and farmers who were under great pressure to get their animals slaughtered can now do so. This will help to protect our meat industry and the jobs of workers who have been discommoded by the blockades and the inability of the factories to process meat. I will, however, point out and highlight that the farmers who stood at the gates did so simply because they have no bargaining power when dealing with the meat processors. They go to a factory to have their animals slaughtered and must take the price offered. There is no negotiation. The farmers who stood at the gates have succeeded in making the public and the mainstream media conscious of the fact that they are producing animals at a loss while the multiple retailers and meat processors in our food supply chain and beef industry are all making profits. When the farmers run into difficulty they have to come to Government to bail them out and to assist them. This is not sustainable. There is more work to be done, but I want to acknowledge and compliment the farmers, who conducted themselves in a very fine manner in this regard. It was a desperate act, but it is a desperate situation. I hope all energies will now be focused on finding real, long-term solutions for the sustainability of our primary producers, our farmers, in the beef industry.

I will refer to the beef exceptional aid measure, which received sign-off from the European Commission and the Minister, Deputy Creed, in July. I welcome this €100 million fund to assist farmers.When it was opened for applications in mid-August, take-up was slow. Initially, just 20,000 farmers applied. I understand that 34,517 farmers had applied by the closing date last Friday. They will account for €78.1 million of the €100 million. The money that is given is very welcome. The farmers who are down on their luck are really down on their luck. I suggest that the reference period during which farmers are given a subsidy for the slaughter of animals should be extended. At the moment, it runs from 24 September 2018 to 12 September 2019. I am asking for it to be pushed out to July to enable any farmer who presents with his cattle during the extended period to apply. We should spend the remaining funds of approximately €22 million which have not been claimed by farmers. We will be going to the EU Commission again to look for money because of the uncertainty associated with Brexit. Obviously, we do not know right here and now. I do not think it would be good policy on our part to be sending any money back. Farmers desperately need it. There is scope to extend the terms of reference. I ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to seek to get the agreement of the EU Commission for this to be done.