Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is very welcome to the House. I have asked for this debate for a long time, and I have had the Minister in here several mornings for Commencement matters. We know that we need far more supports for the sheep sector. Sheep are synonymous with our landscape, our heritage and our tourism.It must be stated that only 4% of our sheep farmers are under 35. The average sheep farmer is 56 years of age. We are not encouraging new young farmers to get into a really important agricultural sector. We know there are significant difficulties in the sheep farming sector. We have been talking about it for months. Low prices have been a long-standing issue. There is some talk of a small increase in price but it is not enough and the Minister knows it. It does not compensate for the hardship caused. It has been compounded by factors like the increased competition from overseas producers, pressures from retailers and the saturation of the domestic market. These factors all make it increasingly difficult for sheep farmers to compete on price and remain profitable. In 2022, we exported sheep meat to 35 countries. A total of €476 million worth of sheep was exported to factories, yet the net return for sheep farmers fell by 81%.

Another challenge facing the sector is the increasing cost of inputs such as feed, fertiliser and veterinary medicines. All costs continue to increase. We see this every week. The issue is being compounded by climate change. We have heard so much talk about the establishment of the wool council. I put down a Commencement Matter on the importance of establishing that council, but where are the actions? Where is the market expansion? Why are we not pushing this high-quality product all around the world? It is a real disappointment at this stage. I should not have to tell the Minister about the quality and the incredible product wool is, but for the record, it is one of the most regenerative and sustainable products known to us. Fleece grows every year and we have to cut it off because it is a sheep welfare issue. It can act as a fertiliser. It releases nutrients back into the soil. It needs to be utilised. I have such belief in the sector. We need to be quick and smart and come up with action on it.

There is a very short-term solution to this. Sheep farmers could be supported by providing additional payments to the new sheep improvement scheme, which was opened by the Department a few months back. It could assist farmers with the costs associated with shearing and handling wool - sorting out the dagging and bagging of wool to be cleaned in the right way, which must be done by the wool merchant. We could be helping farmers effectively now. It is a really important opportunity to assist them.

I also wish to highlight a significant prejudice against sheep farmers in the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, an issue I have highlighted in this House. Fifteen cows equal 100 sheep in a livestock unit. We have really good schemes for the suckler. The Minister has worked hard to get that per cow price up to €200. Farmers are only getting €12 per sheep when they could get €200 for cattle. This is prejudice against sheep. A farmer will get €3,000 for 15 cows while a sheep farmer will only get €1,200 for 400 sheep. This is not fair. This is not to begrudge any farmer. My father is one and my brother is a sheep farmer. However, we must have equity in the system.

Sheep farming is intensive and is practised by older people. Traditional farming methods have been used for generations and it will not change too much in the future. Dipping, dagging, dosing and clipping are hugely important and the farmer has to do a lot of manual work. The sheep welfare scheme needs to be increased by at least €30. I could talk about this issue at length and I have done so many times, but we need action and support because farmers cannot continue producing high-quality sheep and not getting any money for it.