The recent discovery of bluetongue cases across the island has been a major setback for the farming sector. While the number of confirmed cases to date has remained low, the consequences of this outbreak for the wider sector are significant. One of these consequences is the recent introduction of bans on the live export of animals between the North and South of this island, except in cases where the animal is intended for direct slaughter. This ban is having a huge effect on livestock farmers who depend on all-island trade, especially those who export animals for breeding or finishing purposes. Last year, the North represented one of the top five destinations for live exports from the Twenty-six Counties. In advance of this year’s export season, progress needs to be made in lifting this export ban as the outbreak is now on both sides of our island. Clearly, there is a need for an all-island approach to this outbreak, in terms of both export procedures and vaccination. I call on the Minister to engage, on both a European and an all-island basis, to deliver this. This outbreak of bluetongue is not the only threat the farming sector faces. Issues such as the reforms to CAP, the Government’s failure to block the Mercosur trade deal and generational renewal are fundamental threats Irish farmers are facing. The European Commission’s recent proposals on the future of CAP represent a radical shift in how CAP is to be funded, governed and delivered. Under this new model, CAP would sit alongside a wide range of other EU policy areas, including cohesion, migration, climate and fisheries. The reality is that this reform would be a watering-down of CAP. This watering-down is also seen in the proposed cuts the Commission intends for the CAP budget. For Ireland, the indicative CAP allocation would mean a reduction of over €2.5 billion, leading to cuts to vital payments. We also saw the Commission’s proposal to end direct payments to farmers in receipt of pensions who have spent decades farming. All of this comes at a time when farmers are facing higher input costs, increased volatility, rising obligations and increased competition from low-standard imports, such as those from the Mercosur countries. This is a bad deal for Irish farmers and the Minister needs to fight tooth and nail against these proposals. I was outside the office of Bord Bia today standing with Galway farmers who are continuing their protest against Larry Murrin’s position as chair of Bord Bia. This saga has gone on for far too long.

Sentiment score: -0.04

It is clear that farmers do not have confidence in the chair. The Minister finally needs to act in that regard.

Sentiment score: -0.01