Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and his officials to the committee. Regarding the Food Harvest 2020 targets, 74% of the recommendations have been achieved or substantive action has been taken in relation to them. How does the Department quantify what has been achieved so far, considering that we are now six years from 2020? There has been a great deal of discussion and debate on the beef situation over the past 12 months or so. From a beef point of view, how are we doing with regard to the Food Harvest 2020 targets? How do we see ourselves in the next year? The past year has been a difficult and challenging time. Are the targets set out in Harvest 2020 achievable and attainable from a beef point of view? New markets are crucial to developing the beef industry. Extra funds were spent by Bord Bia over the last year to generate new markets. How have we been progressing from that point of view?

As we approach next March and the end of the super-levy, which is welcome, the milk targets seem to be very achievable. While I am probably getting off the point to a certain extent, a potential consequence for a number of farmers building up in advance of the abolition of the quota is a huge super-levy bill in the coming period. What progress have we made to alleviate or soften the blow for those who may be liable for super-levy bills in March? Might that have an effect on the possibility of future development in the area? While development is welcome, I concur with Deputy Ferris's view regarding the small milk producer. Is there a need to be careful and conservative as we progress in the coming years to avoid creating a bubble similar to the property bubble? A number of farmers may be transferring from other sectors to the dairy sector unaware of the consequences going forward and unsure or unaware of their future financial situation, considering that in the past two months we have seen a 4 cent drop in the price of milk per litre. That may continue and they may not have budgeted for it. Is it sustainable, and do we need to flag it to warn people that it may not all be honey going forward and of the need to be careful and conservative?