Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture Matt Carthy, has said the response he received from the minister in relation to the exclusion of suckler farmers from the €50m Beef Exceptional Aid package is “at odds with reality“.

The Cavan-Monaghan TD has called on the new Government to provide a financial support package for the suckler beef sector and insists the intention that the €50m beef package would essentially trickle down to suckler farmers in the autumn will “be of little comfort to those currently struggling”.

Carthy continued: “The decision to exclude suckler beef farmers from the €50m aid package has meant that this cohort of farmers have received no supports in recognition of the challenges they faced as a result of COVID-19”.

Opportunity to correct

Carthy claims “the new Government now has an opportunity to correct this imbalance. They need to do so by providing a financial support for our suckler sector in recognition of the huge challenges that they are facing.”

Supporting finishers will have a positive impact on suckling and store buying enterprises

In response to these queries, Minister Cowen has said the aid package is targeted towards beef finishers in recognition of the fact that “they have borne the most immediate and severe economic impact arising from the market disturbance arising from the COVID-19 pandemic”.

“Supporting finishers will have a positive impact on suckling and store buying enterprises, as it will help to maintain the market into which these operators sell, primarily in the autumn.”