Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the officials for attending. I note the very significant contribution they made during the CAP negotiations. The period of our of EU Presidency was acclaimed across the board. Negotiating the CAP in the manner of the Minister and his officials was the key. I congratulate them on it. I wish to highlight two phenomena that had the Irish stamp all over them. One concerned young farmers and the other concerned the abolition of the sugar quota. Both were very difficult to achieve. There was much opposition but the achievements will leave a lasting legacy.

For young farmers, in particular, it is important that the issues of land inheritance and mobility be borne in mind. It is important that we support young farmers. We all accept that the sugar industry is one that we should not have lost. I hope we will have an opportunity to get back into it.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív referred to certain free trade agreements being negotiated by the European Union and a number of countries. This week, the Taoiseach and Minister announced a very exciting development that will work wonders for our reputation. Japan is to import Irish beef for the first time in a number of years. What effect would a positive conclusion to the EU–Canada free trade agreement talks have for our agriculture industry? I am interested in hearing the views of the officials on that.

Regarding the US–EU memorandum of understanding on the exportation of US hormone-free beef to Ireland, it has already been said there are concerns about imported beef that might not meet the very strict Irish standards. We know the added cost incurred by the Irish producer in meeting our standards. We need to ensure that there is no trade-off that posits agriculture in general in the European Union, but particularly in Ireland, as a poor relation for industrial reasons. This ties in with the ongoing EU-Mercosur negotiations on allowing Mercosur countries to gain access to the EU beef market. Could we have a brief overview on that?