Pippa Hackett (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I accept there are challenges for some farmers with this. There are mitigating pieces in there that may help iron out some of the issues. Ultimately, the purpose of this and the changes in the indexes are, maybe more in the longer term, to support farmers to breed animals that are more productive and that are more profitable. In this day, profitability on farms is probably the most important aspect.

The Department will continue to engage on this with the breed societies and the farm organisation representatives. We will keep it under continuous examination. Ultimately, we are trying to improve our suckler cow herd and the progeny they produce. I can commit that engagement will continue.