"The €200 support payment is undeliverable. It would be dishonest for me to say that it was. What I can say is that I am focused on the reform of the CAP. I think the demise of the sector is being a little exaggerated."

That was Minister Creed's answer to a question put to him by the Irish Farmers Journal on whether there were any plans for the Government to support the suckler cow in next Tuesday's budget.

Listen to "Liam Delaney, Co Portlaoise" on Spreaker.

The minister was quite clear that it just cannot be done and he referred to other supports for the sector, including BDGP and an increased ANC payment rate.

"I don't have the budgetary flexibility to deliver the €200m required for a suckler cow payment. The money simply isn’t there and there is no point in sugar-coating that. I am engaged in negotiations around the broad agricultural sector but I don’t want to go into those budgetary details tonight."

CAP money

The minister addressed the meeting and made reference on a number of occasions to the fact that it was going to be very difficult to keep the same level of money in CAP that has been available.

"This is my current focus in trying to make sure we secure a similar budget, but it wont be easy," he said.

When asked about next week's Beef Forum taking place without any farmers or farm organisations around the table, the minister replied: "The Beef Forum will go ahead on Wednesday as planned."

Farm visit

Earlier, the minister visited the beef farm of Jim and Liam Delaney, who farm just outside Portlaoise. The father-and-son team farm 80 sucklers finishing everything as beef.

During the farm visit, Liam made it clear to the minister that the sector was in trouble and that finishing cattle at the current beef price of €3.70/kg was a waste of time.

Delaney said: "This sector needs your support and without it it will end up like the sugar beet industry - dead."

Speaking after the meeting, Liam Delaney said he was disappointed with the minister's response to calls for support for the sector and he urged the minister to rethink his decision not to support the struggling sector.