Mixed response from livestock farmers

OVERALL there is nothing in the Budget that could possibly counteract the likely negative effects of a bad World Trade Organisation deal for the livestock sector.

While we welcome the announcement of supports for biofuels, which is a step in the right direction, it does not go far enough.

Targeted excise duty relief, starting at €20m and rising to €50m, over a three-year period, sends out the right signals, but needs to be more ambitious if biofuels are to become a new and viable enterprise on Irish farms. This is especially urgent in view of the imminent demise of the Irish sugar sector.