Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Commissioner for a comprehensive overview of the work programme, what has been done to date and where the Commission intends to go. I would like his views on a number of issues. Regarding migration and despite the volume of people involved, the Commission seems to suggest that 160,000 people will be dealt with through the relocation programme. That is small compared with the number of people who have crossed the outer border in the past year. I had an opportunity to visit Calais this summer to see the situation there. The problem is not going away and its scale is obvious. It will taper out over the winter but, with the expected continuation of hostilities, it is highly unlikely that it will not increase again as the weather changes. Is the 160,000 figure a starting point? Does the Commissioner expect the Commission to try to negotiate further? It is clear to us that this number does not match the demand.

The Commissioner rightly pointed out the importance of the agrifood sector to the economy. He referred to the necessity of retaining young people in the sector, in particular on the farming side. He has been involved in a programme that aims to achieve better lending arrangements for young farmers who want to invest in the farming sector. To that extent, discussions have been held with the European Central Bank, ECB. Will the Commissioner update us on this initiative's status?

I do not expect the Commissioner to have a crystal ball, but will he to some extent give us the Commission's view of where the market for beef and milk lies? Dairy farmers have suffered a significant drop in incomes this year. Most of them take the view that dairy must be approached on a five-year cycle. However, the elimination of the quota has encouraged new people into the sector. Will the Commissioner provide us with some visibility of the Commission's standpoint on this issue?