Animal Diseases
Seanad Éireann — 2025-12-16
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Seán Kyne (FG), Cultural and Educational Panel

I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive response. As I said, I would not be here today if it were a case of one cow or one bull. However, the cap impacts the value that is allowed to be paid to pedigree farm owners. For a farmer in their 50s who wants to get back into pedigree farming again after the depopulation grant, there is a huge disincentive because of the payment. I am asking the Minister of State to go back to the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and discuss this at management board meetings with the Department officials to see if it is possible where there is a pedigree herd. I am sure the Minister of State has them in Kerry. A person might have a pedigree herd of 20 or 30 or 40 animals and they are suffering from a full depopulation and the impact that has, with the emotional impact, the stress, the worry, the hardship and the financial hit.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2025-12-16/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:28+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-16