People are entitled to eat what they want. But they are not entitled to spread misinformation, fear and falsehoods about farming and the food we produce.

– Joe Healy, IFA president

I have 50 bulls at home. Next Monday the first load is going, another load two weeks later and another load two weeks later. By the time the second and third load are killed, all them bulls are old – that’s €2,500 alone I’m losing, irrespective of the bad price we’re already getting.

– Shay Galvin, Limerick chair

I’m considering going into milk. I intend to be farming for the next 20 years, but it’s not going to be in beef if things don’t happen now. In 2014/2015 when milk hit 19c/l, two tranches of €500m could be found for the dairy industry.

– Francie Gorman, Laois chair

A major threat to pig farmers is African Swine Fever and we do not think that your Department is doing enough on that side. We need more biosecurity. One of our greatest advantages is that we’re an island that can keep out disease. We’re not doing enough.

– Tom Hogan, pig chair

The sheep sector is a very low income sector and direct payments are essential for sheep farmers’ incomes. The sector delivers in terms of public goods. Will you commit to securing additional funding targeted at sheep farmers as part of CAP 2020?

– Séan Dennehy, sheep chair