Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 21 January 2014

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised)

2:15 pm

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Under subhead A8, the Bord Iascaigh Mhara grant, there is an increase of about €2 million. The Minister has outlined that this will be the Vote in 2014.

I, too, welcome the beef genomics scheme. I come from a traditional beef fattening county. Suckler cow herds are the genesis of our beef industry and that sector has suffered. The Minister indicated yesterday that there will be €80 per calf. A total of €23 million is provided. How will he make that up to ensure we secure the €80 per calf? It is a great step forward to allow us penetrate the lucrative markets still available. There is a lot to be done regarding our level of penetration across the eurozone in terms of the big, high quality beef markets but this measure will give us the impetus to achieve the full-scale penetration we deserve for a quality beef product and our traceability.

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