FARMERS brought a flock of sheep into the centre of Dublin as they accused the Department of Agriculture of trying to pull the wool over their eyes.
The farmers called on Minister Brendan Smith to immediately introduce a sheep maintenance payment which they said was secured in the Common Agricultural Policy health check agreement in Brussels last week.
A spokesman for the minister said he would decide on how unspent European Union funds will be used following consultation with the various stakeholders, but he would not be influenced by any one particular group.
Mr Smith said last week the additional money would amount to €23 million per year from 2010, with a smaller amount in 2009, and possibly more than this over the following few years.
Irish Farmers Association Sheep Committee chairman Henry Burns called on the minister to deliver on “his clear commitment to the country’s 34,000 sheep farmers”.
Prior to the Health Check last week, he said Mr Smith said clearly on the record that the sheep sector should be a priority for unused CAP funds.
“Action needs to be taken at EU level to address difficulties in the sector. The CAP health check provides the focus and opportunity to revitalise the sector and provide for its long-term future,” he said.
Mr Burns said sheep farmers fail to understand why the minister and the Department are dragging their feet and delaying an announcement on sheep.
He said the minister now appears to be playing politics with the outcome from the health check and the unused CAP funds.
“The minister needs to state that the unused CAP funds secured in Brussels will go to the sheep sector and he needs to make an immediate announcement on a sheep maintenance payment per ewe.”
Mr Burns said Mr Smith has the scope and flexibility to announce a €20 per ewe sheep payment.
