Independent TD for Laois Offaly Carol Nolan has said that efforts to develop new international market opportunities for the sheep sector ‘will not be worth the paper they are written on’ in the absence of urgent action to secure the viability of the sector here at home.
Deputy Nolan was speaking after meeting with representatives from several farming organisations to address what she described as ‘the ongoing price pressures and razor thin margins that sheep farmers are facing as they battle to survive every day of the week’:
“One of the explicit goals of Food Vision 2030 is securing market access and diversifying trade and market opportunities at home and abroad for Irish farmers,” said Deputy Nolan.
“Many of the sheep farmers I am engaging with however are rapidly losing faith in their capacity to respond to any such opportunities that may arise simply because they are struggling to maintain operations locally from one week to the next.”
“The Minister for Agriculture must prioritise the roll-out of a system of direct supports that will keep our sheep farmers operating and in particular he must address how we reduce the burdens that have arisen from the 40% increase in input costs that have landed like a financial grenade within the sector.”
“Irish sheep and lamb are a world class premium product that is in huge demand generating approximately €400 million pa. Government and this Minister simply cannot allow that trade to be undermined by its apparent determination to adopt a penny-wise but pound foolish approach to the future of the Irish sheep sector,” concluded Deputy Nolan.