Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

During the Covid crisis we have all paid our respects and thanks to the front-line workers, whether in the health service or in shops, but one sector - the farming community and the agricultural sector - has kept food on the table, not alone in this country but also in what we export to other countries. However, farmers in various sectors are at a loss at the moment. If they want to cut trees on forestry they sowed 30 years ago, they cannot do so because of serial objections and departmental incompetence. Soon 12,000 people in the forestry sector may be out of work. Timber is not available. We are now looking at importing it from Latvia and other countries to keep jobs going in the various areas.

In addition, farmers do not know whether the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS, will be rolled over. There is a section in the new Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, on strictly protected areas, under peaty lands, which would include Donegal down to Kerry, bar a few areas. Farmers affected may not get the new CAP funding because of new regulation coming in under CAP. After the last election was called, the candidates of the Tánaiste's party and Fianna Fáil, which comprise 90% or perhaps 95% of the Government, in all the hustings around the country and in their manifestos gave a commitment to the suckler sector. Sucklers comprise 95% of the cows in the area I have mentioned, which runs from the top of Donegal, along by the Shannon and right down to Kerry. They said they would fund a new suckler scheme to protect the suckler farmer. Is the Government prepared to bring this in shortly? If so, when will this happen? Will the Tánaiste give us a date for it?

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