I thank Deputy Sherlock for his questions. Turning to the beef task force first, it has carried out a good deal of work by bringing farm organisations and stakeholders together. It has an important role to play in future as well and I will ensure it continues to work productively. Regarding the harvesting of peat, the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, has put together a committee to examine this matter. I agree it would not make sense for us to be importing peat if such production were to stop domestically. We must…

I thank Deputy Crowe. On the fair deal scheme, the Bill is due to come before Dáil Éireann this term. The objective is to have it in place and operational by summertime. I have recently published the consultation on the new agri-environment scheme, which is closing on 26 February. Already there have been some 1,000 replies to the consultation. I would encourage all farmers to engage and give their views to help inform the nature of the scheme and ensure it is as practical as possible for farmers to implement, while…

I thank Deputy Flaherty. I am aware of the campaign in Longford and I commend it on emphasising the importance of local produce. I hope that others follow the lead on that. I will look into the specific case raised and I will revert to the Deputy on it.

Deputy Kenny spoke about bait importation for coarse fishing and I will follow up on the issue. We have many challenging issues as a result of Britain being a third country and outside the Single Market. Many of these issues are not easily resolved if resolvable. I will look into it in detail. Deputy Daly asked about forestry appeals where we have had significant challenges. We have increased the staff working on this. We have 16 ecologists working on this now where we had only one previously. We have ten additiona…

The Deputy and I have discussed this matter and a number of other Deputies have raised it with me. As he knows the public health advice must be put first throughout the pandemic. That is the backdrop against which we are working. I certainly understand and recognise the challenges closure has had on the point-to-point industry and the importance of that sector of the horse racing industry. The Government will consider that against the backdrop of public health advice. I certainly take on board the representations t…

As regards Deputy Cahill's point, this is something on which he has made many representations to me and we have discussed it at length. I take on board the importance of the point-to-point sector in the overall horse racing industry and the financial implications of it being closed. As I pointed out previously, that was done against the backdrop of the public health advice and the importance of keeping people safe. That has led to very significant challenges but it will continue to be considered by the Government a…

The Deputy raised the matter of meat factories and the Covid pandemic. As with every other sector of society and the economy, the safety of employees from danger and the risk of infection is absolutely paramount. That is essential in the meat and food processing sectors in particular, given that their employees are designated as essential workers and therefore have had to work throughout the pandemic. They have carried out tremendous work in ensuring that the food supply has been kept moving and every effort and st…

I will come back to the Deputy directly with a response on it.

On the beef task force, its work continues. One of the main outcomes is the agreement in regard to a protected geographical indication, PGI, grass fed beef standard application to the European Commission. There is also an agreement, on which I have worked with the task force, to provide €6 million in funding for the first time to support the development of a suckler beef brand. There is more work ongoing, including on my proposal to develop a food ombudsman to bring transparency to the food supply chain. On Deputy …

In the meat industry, as in every other part of the economy, the welfare and health of employees has to come first. The same rules apply to everyone in this regard. All employers must take every precaution they possibly can to keep employees safe. There is also an onus on the Government to work to ensure there is oversight and inspection in order to make sure those standards are being upheld. As of 5 February this year, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine had completed 666 inspections on behalf of th…

A significant number of queries have been raised. Deputy Ó Cuív mentioned the importance of funding coastal communities, the importance of the new agri-environmental scheme and of funding piers. I take his points on board. Deputy O'Sullivan mentioned the issue of horse welfare and the animal welfare strategy, as did Deputy Higgins. There is work to be done on this and I take on board the Deputies' comments in that regard. Deputy O'Connor mentioned Ballycotton pier, which we discussed during the week. I will certain…

My thanks to Deputy Browne for the question on the vaccination plans for key workers in the dairy processing sector. Recently, I met representatives of the dairy sector and this issue was raised. As the Deputy knows, the vaccination roll-out has been given strong and deft consideration by the national immunisation advisory committee. Our roll-out and approach are based on the committee's considerations. We have many priority and vulnerable categories. Each is deserving in respect of the urgency of receiving a vacci…

Government Deputies and Senators in County Mayo and other counties have been in touch with me directly raising this issue and they are very much aware of it. Obviously, I am not in a position today to give any guarantees around that but I have clearly outlined, as I have to Government Deputies who have raised this with me directly, that I am engaged with Teagasc. I understand the position relating to the demand for young farmers to become trained and to avail of green cert courses. We are keen to try to ensure dema…

I thank the Deputies for their contributions. Deputy Durkan touched on several issues. One of the specific issues he raised was in respect of felling licences and the delays in that regard. It was also the last point raised by Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan. There has been a backlog in that area. We are working very hard to allocate additional resources to try to reduce that backlog and get to a situation where there is a reasonable timeframe for responses to applications for forestry licences. For example, we have …

The beef task force plays a very important role-----

It is continuing its work as well. It will be meeting again to continue that work.

It will be meeting again to continue its work.

I have answered the question.

I said it will be meeting again-----

If Deputy McNamara was more interested in finding out information as opposed to grandstanding-----