Taoiseach Kenny was addressing a meeting of the executive council of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) on Thursday.

Responding to a question from the association’s livestock committee chair Henry Burns, Kenny said increasing a payment under the Beef Data Genomics Programme (BDGP) would not be easy.

At present a participant of the BDGP receives €95/cow on the first 10 calved cows in the herd. The payments drops to €80/cow for the subsequent calved cows in the herd.

“To continue to apply additional funding through payments for the BDGP scheme from €95 to €200/cow is not straightforward,” An Taoiseach said.

“It would require significant additional actions by participants so we need to talk about that. In addition, it would require a transfer of funds from elsewhere in the Rural Development Programme so it’s a balancing act,” he continued.

Fianna Fáil agriculture spokesman Éamon Ó Cuív has recently committed to a €200/cow payment for the suckler sector should his party lead the next government.

Ewe support

Regarding the IFA’s consistent calls for a direct support for the sheep sector, in the form of €20/ewe payment, An Taoiseach again was less than positive for farmers. Kenny said, similar to looking for increased funds for the BDGP, the Government would have to look at taking money from somewhere else to create the payment.

An Taoiseach did, however, commit to having a conversation about both payments should he be elected the next Taoiseach.

With regard to an election date, An Taoiseach quipped that people will “know soon enough” as to when the country will go to the polls.

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Watch a video of Jer Bergin's introduction and Enda Kenny's address as streamed live by the Irish Farmers Journal on Periscope this Thursday.