Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the representatives from the ICSA and the IFA to the Visitors Gallery today. I thank the Minister for his very lengthy statement setting out the situation regarding the current offering of the Government and the State to our sheep farmers. However, it is clear from listening to them that sheep farmers are in crisis and the financial supports we have given to them are not enough.

It is very obvious to say that profit margins continue to fall when all the costs of these farmers continue to rise. We see sheep farmers struggle to cover even the basic costs of production. All they are looking for is to be paid a fair and decent price. The buyers are not taking into account the massive inflation we have seen over recent months - a year in fact. I know it is not our job to compensate for inflation but we have done an enormous amount for every household in this country with the cost of living and the supports the State has provided, and we need to do more for our sheep farmers. There are thousands of sheep farmers and they make a significant contribution to our economy, but right now, it is fair for them to say they are finding it very difficult to make a living let alone break even. This includes farmers in my constituency in Ballyboughal and Balbriggan in my constituency in Dublin, who I know are really struggling at the moment.

With this crisis, we have seen young farmers choosing to go into another sector and not remain in what is, as other colleagues have said, an integral part of society, heritage and culture. There is not one bit of our landscape where sheep cannot be seen grazing, but if we do not do something, these farmers do not see a future in this sector and there will not be a future for this sector if we do not continue to have it re-energised and younger people entering the sector.

We replaced the sheep welfare scheme and there are about 12,000 applicants for the sheep improvement scheme this year. I have no doubt it is a financial support where €12 per breeding ewe is much needed, but I agree with the members of the sheep farming community that it is not enough. It does not even allow them to break even let alone make a profit, and I do not know any businessman or woman in this country who is in business to lose money. Everybody is in business for the good of the economy and the sector, grá for the land and the value of what they provide, but ultimately they need to make money, which is not happening. Given the dire situation of sheep farmers, I am asking whether serious consideration has been or will be given by the Department to an emergency package for these farmers. When I say "emergency", I mean now; not in six or seven months time when we get around to having a budget for next year. I mean now, recognising the current situation.

We have heard about the hardship suffered by these farmers. Brexit has undoubtedly been a factor putting them under financial pressure. We have seen Irish farmers facing even more competition from the UK and across the European market, so when the negative impact of Brexit is seen, I am asking whether the Department utilised the Brexit adjustment reserve fund to alleviate some of the hardship farmers are going through.

The Minister may be aware that Fine Gael held a conference on the future of farming in February that was enormously successful and well attended. It laid out the challenges that face the entire farming community. I know Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are parties that strongly support the farming industry, but right now, if we are to be the Government that supports the sheep sector, it needs financial support and it needs it now. We need to do more and we need to do better, so on behalf of the guests who have come here, I ask for more and immediate engagement to recognise that the 50,000 sheep farmers constitute an integral part of our offering as a country in our agricultural supports systems. We need to do better and do more, so I am asking for further engagement and action.