Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. It is good news that the meeting will start next month and I look forward to it. It is very important. Unfortunately, the wheels of bureaucracy turn slowly, and I reiterate there is a space for supporting sheep farmers in the new sheep improvement scheme. Being able to shear sheep is a sheep welfare issue. When the Minister of State said agents usually shear sheep, she made it sound as though there is a massive output, but it is usually a young farmer who shears a few other farmers' sheep. It is not a large agency that comes in to do it. Alternatively, it is done by farmers themselves, as is the case in the Cooley Peninsula. In any event, it costs a great deal to look after these sheep and shear their wool.

I look forward to further updates on this because it is very important.