Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I echo the concerns of my colleague, Senator McGahon, on the Scallywags crèche in Togher. It is a viable business and it must be reopened. I hope to work with the Minister and Senator McGahon on that case.

I wish to highlight some good news. I congratulate the Taoiseach on the hard-won funding agreed in Europe this week, particularly that under the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP. We have been informed that current levels of funding have been maintained and a special allocation of €300 million has been promised for Ireland for structural challenges facing our agricultural sector.

Another good news story this week was the creation of a €5 billion contingency fund for Brexit. As someone from a Border county who knows the negative effects Brexit could have on our exposed Border economy and agrifood sector, I welcome this contingency fund.

There has been much chat about the convergence of single farm payments. Equitable distribution of funds is very important. However, I urge the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to be aware that convergence needs to be truly equitable and that it often affects the small family farmer negatively. Productivity and livestock rates should be considered because the base point of these single farm payments is now out of date as it is based on data from 20 years ago. I ask the Minister to come to the House to discuss how the Department will structure fair and minimally bureaucratic schemes to ensure our rural economy and our high-quality agrifood sector are protected and grown.