Mr. Gerry Lynskey:

The same argument could be used by the ESB, Eircom and Bord Gáis. Competition is needed. Where economies of scale come into play is in the creation of national databases. There is no point in having a half dozen so-called national agencies developing redundant databases. Of the 100,000 farmers in Ireland, let us say 20,000 need software packages with varying requirements. No State body, whether Teagasc, the ICBF or the Department, will be able to cater for these farmers by providing specific packages. As with everyone else, farmers deserve choice. We are trying to make a sharp distinction between the creation of national databases, which we accept is a State function and one that is best done by the State, and the provision of farm software packages, which is best left to the private sector.

To return to the history of this issue, our main focus is not on what the Department is doing. Ten years ago, the Department made a mistake when it prematurely established a website that was not used effectively until perhaps five years ago. In doing so, it left a half dozen companies high and dry, of which four have since gone out of business. The current problem is that Teagasc and the ICBF, which are subsidiary bodies of the Department, are repeating the mistake the Department made by ignoring the private sector and essentially telling their client base and masters in the Department that they can do what needs to be done and private sector involvement is not necessary. They are using the argument about economies of scale. One could ask why we do not all go back to the Soviet Union.