Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Particularly from Wicklow.

I am under pressure to conclude the meeting. I thank the witnesses for giving us their insight. I refer to the issues Mr. Doyle highlighted issues regarding access to the UK and EU Regulation 1760/2000 and the Irish companies which control the slaughtering. The issue of live exports is something to which we will have to come back.

In regard to the credit policy for marts, I think Mr. Spellman laid it out pretty simply. It is a very simple policy that if one does not give credit, one does not have to insure it. I take the point Mr. Bryan made about allowing for credit insurance.

We did not really touch on changing the law in regard to preferential creditors because it is not something we can address. However, it is something that should be looked at.

In regard to TLT, we have agreed, in principle, to write to the receiver to ask him to clarify a few points and to emphasise a few points to him. I will draft that letter and circulate it to members for their consideration.

I refer to the point about whether there is political will to support the export market, which I think there is. Following the BSE situation, efforts were made by numerous Governments to secure markets - Libya and Tunisia are the latest ones - for live and processed meat products, in particular beef. Governments have made commitments. Some of these have only come through recently. There is a commitment to a live trade. The Government, the Department and Bord Bia cannot afford to allow this to go. The committee produced a report on the grocery sector which stated that consolidation and too few players in the market is bad for everybody, including the processor, the producer and, ultimately, the consumer. The same applies to the markets for beef, which is the largest agricultural export we have.

Again, I thank the witnesses. It was important to address this issue today rather than in few weeks' time when it will have gone off the agenda. Some very valid points were made.