Smith assures Dáil sheep sector remains a Government priority
“I have not, despite claims to the contrary, backed away from any commitments to Irish sheep farmers,” he said.
Mr Smith made his comments during a Fine Gael motion calling for the reversal of budget cuts in farm schemes.
He said the recent Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) health check deal means that a minimum of around €23 million in new money will be available to Irish farmers from 2010, with a much smaller amount available in 2009.
Mr Smith said he had invited the farm organisations to meet him later this month — on December 16 — to discuss how best this new money can be used.
“While I do think it important that I get the views of the stakeholders, I don’t intend that this will be a lengthy process and I expect to be in a position to come to a decision following the forthcoming meeting,” he said.
Mr Smith said he has no doubt that proposals to support the sheep sector will form a central part of the discussions to which he has invited the farm organisations.
“I look forward to that dialogue and giving full consideration to the proposals made, including those articulated recently,” he said.
IFA Sheep Committee chairman Henry Burns said the minister stated at the Limoges Conference in France, that “the sector should be a priority for any unused funds within the CAP budget” and he was keeping him to that commitment.
Claiming the minister fell short of that commitment, he again called on him to announce that the unused funds will go to the sheep sector.
Sheep farmers have been protesting outside the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food since last week.
