Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
1457. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce a payment to compensate sheep farmers in view of the market disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22303/20]
View answerMy officials and I have ongoing contact with all the key stakeholders across the agri-food sector since the start of the pandemic. My Department and I are working to ensure that business and services to farmers can continue, keeping food and other processing facilities operational, ensuring that payments and commercial activities that are necessary to protect farm incomes can continue.
It should be noted that, for the sheep sector, national average price and slaughter volumes this year are above 2019 levels.
