At the end of January, the first home-bred case of bluetongue was found in a cow in County Wexford through routine checks in a slaughterhouse. That was the first time we saw it in an Irish-born animal, and it has, rightly, put farmers on edge. Now we are told, and it is important to repeat, that bluetongue does not affect people or the safety of our milk or meat and does not jump from animal to animal. The problem is the midges spread it and, as many farmers will tell you, you cannot fence out midges. As a result of this one case, we have temporarily lost our bluetongue-free status. That means some countries will not take certain animals from us for now, even though movement within Ireland and to most markets can continue. Farmers did not create this situation but they are the ones who are dealing with the consequences yet again. We have also seen exports for further feeding in Northern Ireland suspended even though exports for slaughter can still go ahead. The Department says it is nearly impossible for a farmer to fully stop a midge-borne disease like this from reaching their herd and that is the reality on the ground. The Minister has confirmed the bluetongue vaccination will be allowed from next spring. This is welcome because every farmer knows the real danger time is when the weather warms up and midges are moving. The high-risk period will be summer 2026 and farmers need protection in place well before that. The common-sense point is that farmers do not need more forms, more hoops or more delays. They need straight answers, quick access to vaccinations and clear guidelines that help them keep going. Time and again I have said in this House that rural Ireland is buried under needless bureaucracy. Farmers feel they are being treated as the problem instead of the people who feed the nation. I am asking the Government that we not drag our feet on this, that we get vaccinations out early, that we give farmers the information in plain language and that we support them instead of slowing them down. This is about protecting livelihoods, keeping cattle and sheep healthy and making sure rural Ireland does not get left behind once again. While I am talking about farming, I want to use the time I have left to talk about the tillage farmers. Many of them are asking about the €30 million support for tillage announced in budget 2026. They have no date for payment of this but it is to be paid, they are being told, in the first six months of the year with an intention to pay it as soon as possible. From what we can gather an application needs to be filled in but farmers have no details on payment amounts and how that will be divided out. This is causing issues for farmers purchasing seed and fertiliser for the season ahead. The farming for water payments are also delayed and some farmers are due a good chunk of money from this scheme. The bottom line is farmers need to know when they are going to get this funding that has been announced because they are in dire circumstances at present. While I have the floor, we must not forget the farmers who are inside Bord Bia’s buildings again this evening weeks after this dispute started standing for their bare rights and the rights of every farmer in this country. The west Cork IFA was there last Thursday and will be there again this Thursday. I will go down to support them every time they are there because they are standing for the common good and for common sense but unfortunately nobody is listening to them.

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