Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 11 June 2015

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: Discussion

2:00 pm

Photo of Joe O'ReillyJoe O'Reilly (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for being unable to remain to hear all of the presentations fully, due to matters beyond my control. Ms King neatly leads me to the question I wish to raise. I do not have to remind her that during the recession, when construction went belly-up, the agricultural sector carried the economy through. Between those directly employed on farms and those who work in food processing plants and other agri-businesses, the agricultural sector employs a considerable number of people. Agricultural exports are at an all-time high and have played an important part in our current economic success. There is tremendous optimism for the future of the sector in terms of its potential for the development of innovative value-added products and opening new markets. Agriculture is vital for employment in this country and, while we have in many ways evolved from the pastoral society that existed in the 1950s and early 1960s, off-farm and related jobs in agriculture are at the core of our economy.

In what ways do the witnesses think TTIP will impact on Irish agriculture and how well are we equipped to deal with it? Will it create the appalling vista of job displacement described by Ms King? In my constituency of Cavan-Monaghan, 634 people work in Carton's chicken processing plant in Shercock. Lakelands Dairies, Glanbia, Monaghan Mushrooms and Combilift are also big employers. With few exceptions, all of these jobs are related to the agricultural sector. If those jobs are threatened or displaced, how do we attract replacement industries to the region? That is an appalling vista and I hope the witnesses can give me assurances to the contrary. How else might matters work out and how can Irish agriculture be protected or, alternatively, how would we cope with non-protection? Reference was made to the potential for gains in other areas, such as the car industry.

Would whatever gains accumulated there be greatly offset by the displacement of agri-related jobs? The witness will know the point I am trying to make and I would be very interested in the response to it.

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