Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I spoke to him previously about a wool council. I reiterate the need to continue those indirect supports. As he well knows, part sheep welfare is that they must be sheared and they must be protected. It is now costing a farmer more to shear their sheep and to look after them in that way than they are getting for their wool. If they are not getting it in a direct payment, it is really important these indirect payments are sufficient to make sure they get all the benefit and that they are supported within their industry. One glaringly obvious support is wool. It is a sustainable, renewable product and we must create the markets and create the space for them to sell it into. Maybe there could be an extra payment, or a small payment, to support the shearing and clipping of sheep in the sheep welfare scheme and an acknowledgement of the work in regard to a wool council.