Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have a couple of questions, if that is all right. Mr. Bryan started off by talking about the fodder crisis and last night, I watched Michelle O'Neill, the Minister in the North, as she thanked the Irish Government for waiving the cost in contrast to the British Government, which is levying a huge charge for the delivery of the fodder that was essential for the industry. I remember Ian Paisley talking years ago about how he is British but the cattle are Irish. How important is the all-Ireland nature of the industry? How important is it to sell the image of a clean and green Ireland internationally? How important is the lack of genetically modified crops in Ireland and how does that link in with our green image internationally? Another issue that concerns me is that, traditionally, enterprises such as Jacob's and other food manufacturers were based in my constituency but they have closed down completely and moved elsewhere. How important is that? I note many of those involved in the food industry were talking about the lack of supports, the costs of energy and rent and so on. How important is that? Moreover, if this manufacturing base shrinks even further, how difficult will that make it to maximise jobs and production in Ireland itself? This also relates to controls regarding the origin of the products. If they are produced in our own country in which those rules and regulations are in place, we would know exactly how Irish products are going to end up on the market.

Internationally, what global business and human rights standards do Irish farmers apply to their agricultural investments? I refer in particular to the developing world and whether they include standards to promote good environmental care and practice. Members are familiar with the use of bio-fuels in many parts of the Third World and how European companies and investors have been buying up good agricultural land for bio-fuels. Is that on the agenda of the Irish Farmers Association, IFA? On the issue of trade missions, have the Government trade missions helped Irish farmers to expand the level of exports or to find new markets? How has the Arab spring and the upheaval arising therefrom affected exports to the Middle East and North Africa? Have such exports have fallen? How profitable and important does the IFA believe a renewed beef deal with Iran would be for Irish beef exporters? I have asked a lot of questions and I would appreciate it if Mr. Bryan could answer some of them.