The measures announced by the Government to support beef farmers in Budget 2021 “lack ambition” Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on agriculture Matt Carthy has said.
Reacting to the Tuesday’s budget the Cavan-Monaghan TD said the €45m announced for a ‘COVID beef scheme’ appeared to be temporary and a pale imitation of his party’s proposal.
“This budget could have delivered a new vision for our family farmers. Sinn Féin’s Suckler Beef Scheme would have provided those farmers who need support the most a payment of up to €300 per cow in recognition of the value of their product to the environment and to the Irish agri-food industry as well as rural economies,” he said.
This budget fails our rural communities and farming families
“This, and other Sinn Féin proposals, would have helped revitalise Irish farming.”
New entrants
Instead, Carthy believed there was nothing in the measures announced to encourage new entrants into agriculture.
“This budget fails our rural communities and farming families. In fact, the only real difference that most will notice from the budget will be the additional costs of the carbon tax,” he said.
Some €25m was allocated for Brexit. However, Carthy pointed out this was for import controls and that the funding would not find its way into the pockets of people in rural Ireland.
TB
On TB, he said the Government suggested additional funds were committed to carry out the same number of tests when the reality is extra money is required due to EU penalties.
All in all, farmers and rural dwellers will be underwhelmed
He said the penalties were as a result of Government failings in the area of TB controls.
“All in all, farmers and rural dwellers will be underwhelmed by this budget which has already been largely dismissed as a failure by those who had hoped that this would be new departure. Instead, Budget 2021 is a missed opportunity,” he concluded.