Warning over sheep industry

THERE is a real danger that the sheep industry will lose its critical mass to enable it to survive and prosper.

Fine Gael agriculture spokesman Michael Creed issued the warning after pointing out that ewe numbers have fallen from five million to three million in recent years. Noting that Bord Bia figures show a drop of 200,000 in the number of sheep being sent for slaughter, he said Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan’s recently announced €6 million measure for the sector will only address the “tip of the iceberg”.

Mr Creed called for an ewe grant scheme that could be modelled on the more valuable suckler cow welfare scheme.

IFA president Pádraig Walshe and sheep committee chairman Henry Burns discussed the income difficulties in the sheep sector with Ms Coughlan in Dublin yesterday.

Mr Walshe said the sector is in serious decline and urgent action is required by the minister on the payout of a €34m government package announced last May.

Meanwhile, a key meeting on Europe’s sheep and lamb processing sectors took place in Brussels with Iztok Jarc, the Slovenian Minister for Agriculture, and who is presently chairman of the EU Agriculture Council.

Ireland East MEP Liam Aylward organised the meeting, which was attended by agriculture ministers as well as senior officials from six member states, including Ireland.