Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank both witnesses for their presentations. It is encouraging to see Mr. Finan's presentation about the future prospects for young farmers. He has identified issues including access to land, credit and education. Education will certainly play a huge role in the advancement of younger farmers in the years ahead.

Beef imports should be seen in the context of the TTIP proposals and the situation concerning production standards in the US, Canada and South America compared to those applicable in the EU. If this is going to happen, we need a level playing pitch with the same standards. Unless such operable standards are in place we should not proceed. I would like to hear Macra na Feirme's views on that when its representatives respond.

Mr. Finan mentioned the 28 EU states that opted out regarding GM. Our representatives did not take that road. Given that Scotland, Wales and the Six Counties have gone for the opt-out, does Mr. Finan believe it will have an effect on this country competing in the future, particularly with regard to good green production, environmentally friendly production and so forth?

Mr. Finan also mentioned feedlots. I have been interested in this for a considerable time. The feedlots are a mechanism to control and manipulate the market at the demand of the beef barons. What is even more annoying is that people who had held prominent positions in farming authorisations in the past are complicit in this. What can we do to stop that? Can we bring in a regulation to do that? Mr. Finan suggested these feedlots could be in breach of the competition laws or whatever. I would appreciate it if he could enlighten us further on that.

Mr. Finan stated that there has been a reduction on exports for 2015. We had a presentation to this committee which reckoned that approximately 150,000 extra cattle will come on stream in the coming year. If there are not export provisions available for that, it can have a detrimental effect on prices for the producer in terms of getting back what they need.

I am glad that serious interest is being taken regarding the victims of the hen harrier. That farmers in designated areas have been discriminated against is probably one of the greatest injustices. People living in marginal areas had their land designated, with no compensation paid, and they now find they must try to get redress at this late stage. I am glad that all the farming organisations are united behind this issue and I hope a resolution will be found that will give justice to the people who have been denied it.