Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the group. I have been a long-time supporter of the concept of organic farming. When it first became official, if one were to put it as such, and guys such as those here today got involved in it, I welcomed it because I thought it was great. As Senator O'Brien said, what better place than this green and pleasant land to produce organic farm products? I remember reading about the Italian market, in particular, which was very susceptible to premium Irish beef selling at big prices. However, I cannot understand the situation the witnesses have been telling us about today. There seems to be a lack of urgency among the various State agencies in the development of organic farming. I agree with Senator O'Brien and others that we as a committee have a responsibility to the group here today to pull in all the various people involved. It is disappointing that a Minister of State would make a promise to the group that was not fulfilled. That is very significant. I am not playing politics here, but it is unacceptable that a Minister of State would sit a person down, face him or her eyeball to eyeball and say that he sees the problem and that it is going to be solved, only for the person to find that it has not been solved. If we cannot have faith in the system, it will lead to chaos. I propose that the Minister of State with responsibility for organic farming and his officials be brought before this committee. I agree with Senator O'Brien that those who are involved in the certification process should be brought in here also, along with officials from An Bord Bia.

The witnesses are absolutely right when they talk about targets. In other committees, we have been going through performance targets set by Departments, which are currently going through a mid-term review. It is becoming apparent that Government Departments are falling well short of the mark in terms of what they say one day and what they do the next. There is a big gap between the two realities. The group is not alone in that regard. We are increasingly finding this to be the case as well. I am appalled by some of the results obtained from the process. I am on another committee which yesterday went through the targets with a Minister. The Departments are not meeting their targets, but they look lovely. They all look very impressive. It is the responsibility of this committee to get the people who are making the decisions before it and have them made accountable. They need to answer the questions that have been put here today. We would be doing a good day's work for the group if we were to do that, and I am sure everyone in this committee would support that initiative. I am sure the Chairman has a view on it, but I am specifically asking that the Minister of State and officials from An Bord Bia come before the committee. They are talking about organic farming being at 5%. As my colleague, Senator Ó Domhnaill, has said, that is a 500% increase. Based on my little experience, as explained, of performance targets set by other Departments, the target is pie in the sky, yet the group here today is being penalised under the inspection regime. I do not understand it. It seems as if someone somewhere is saying organic farming is a great concept but is doing everything possible to restrict and inhibit it and stop its progress in every way. That is not on. It is not good for the witnesses or Irish farming.

That is my proposal. I am sure the Chairman will be able to formulate the necessary request to the relevant bodies. I wish the witnesses well and am grateful that they have come before the committee. I have been working in tandem with Deputy Fitzmaurice on this issue. He has been filling me in a lot over the past couple of days on the problems and difficulties faced by the group. As Senator Ó Domhnaill stated, we are all west of Ireland people and we understand fully the difficulties the group is facing.