Small farms to benefit most from derogation, says senator

'We have three years now to look at the alternatives and at what the future is for the derogation in Ireland. Could it be the unthinkable, a future without derogation? What might that look like?'

Carbery suppliers pictured at a farm walk earlier this year.  Up to 66% of Carbery Group suppliers in West Cork are in the derogation. Picture: Andy Gibson

Some 66% of Carbery Group suppliers in West Cork are in the derogation, Senator Noel O’Donovan recently told the Upper House when he welcomed the extension of the measure.

The Fine Gael senator said some of these are large farmers with 200 to 300 cows, but 43% have zero to 70-cow operations and 77% have 70 to 120 cows. “It is actually small indigenous farmers within our communities who are going to benefit from this derogation,” he said.