Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise three issues with the Leader. First, I take this opportunity to welcome the news by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, on the payment, two weeks in advance, for the GLAS scheme. For those who are not familiar with such payments, they are the green, low-carbon scheme, GLAS. In the past two years at least, there have been issues about payments being late or back payments. The scheme, which amounts to €138 million, will arrive this week in the bank accounts of almost 40,000 farmers on the GLAS scheme.I am happy to say I received calls today from two farmers, one in the west and one in Cork, who have received their payments this morning. It is good news, particularly at a time when farmers have had major difficulties with the weather affecting their primary income from farming and also the impact of Covid in terms of access to cattle marts, etc., to sell animals. It has been a particularly challenging year for farmers. As the Minister said in his statement, these advanced payments are at a rate 85% of the full annual payment due to these farmers. This has enormous benefits to them and their families and more importantly to rural communities where the money will be spent. I thank the Minister for setting up a helpline number that will be open this Saturday and the following Saturday at 076-1064451. The email alias is glas@agriculture.gov.ie.

I also wish to raise the issue of coronavirus in mink, which has been identified in six countries from America to Italy. Six countries have reported coronavirus cases in mink farms amid growing concern about a new strain of the disease jumping from animals to humans. It is of concern in terms of health and people travelling from Denmark and across Europe. According to the World Health Organization, it is a major public health wake-up call for everybody. The Government should proceed with testing. We have three major mink farms in Ireland which now represent a health concern as well as an animal welfare concern. What is the status of the Government's commitment in the autumn legislative programme for a Bill to ban fur farming in Ireland anyway? The banning of fur farms is a proposal in the programme for Government. I would like an update on that.

Would it be possible to extend to the Taoiseach an invitation to come to the House? I say this in November because I know there is a long lead-in time. The previous Taoiseach made two or three visits to address the House. I ask the Leader to extend on behalf of the House an invitation to the Taoiseach to come to the House before Christmas.