At National and European level the National Sheep Committee effectively lobbies on behalf of all sheep farmers on the issues of critical importance to members such as incomes, lamb prices and premium support.
The Chairman is a member of the COPA Sheep Committee in Brussels and also holds a seat on the EU Commission Sheepmeat Working Party in Europe.
The National Sheep Committee has built strong relations with other farm organisations in Europe such as the NFU in the UK and FNO in France.
The priority issues for the National Sheep Committee are as follows:
o Strong lamb prices
o Adequate ewe premium payments
o A fairer system of EU sheep policy
o Increased headage payments
o A positive hill sheep policy involving REPS/NHA
o Strong opposition to lamb imports under WTO