ICSA will host a meeting to address issues affecting the sheep sector on Tuesday 21 March. The meeting will take place in The Bush Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon and will start at 8pm. All farmers are welcome to attend.

Speakers on the evening include:

• Oliver Crowe, C.C Agricultural Consultants - Maximising payments under the new CAP
• Bord Bia - Market outlook and the promotion of Irish lamb
• Sean McNamara, ICSA Sheep chair - ICSA's campaign for an emergency aid package for sheep farmers and additional funding for the Sheep Improvement Scheme

ICSA Sheep chair Sean McNamara said, "I am inviting all sheep farmers to come along and have their say on the current state of the sheep sector. As far as I am concerned the sector is in crisis, and we need to plot a way forward so sheep farming can have a future," he said.

ICSA is currently campaigning for a €50 million rescue package for the sheep sector, to be funded through the Brexit Reserve Fund. Mr McNamara said, "No sector is more deserving of assistance from this fund than the sheep sector. This fund is there, it's available, and the Government needs to do the right thing by sheep farmers and access this fund on their behalf."

ICSA is also campaigning for additional funds to be channelled into the Sheep Improvement Scheme. "The current payment of €12 per ewe under this scheme is not fit for purpose. The payment needs to be raised to the more sustainable level of €35/hd which would include €5/hd for the correct presentation of wool."

"It must be remembered that sustainability is not just about the environment it is about people too and their economic sustainability. The two must go hand in hand but all too often all anyone wants to talk to us about is environmental sustainability. We are all actively engaging on that front but the economic sustainability of sheep farming also needs to be addressed if there is to be any future for the sector."