Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The interest issue is a function of competition in the market. Has the witness any ideas of how we could grow competition in the market? Do we need an equivalent of the former ICC Bank, ACC Bank or a grouping that would provide specific finance for farmers, particularly in the context of the vulnerabilities that are there, and that would look at it as a long-term financial commitment?

I could not agree more with Mr. Comer and I am on record here as having said as much over the last ten years: the multiple retailers have excessive power and they will utilise it. Unless there is a statutory way of dealing with them, those voluntary codes are a waste of time. I believe there has been an opportunity missed in the recent legislation. It has to be reviewed and put back on track. A proper statutory form of dealing with that process at every link has to be introduced to try to deal with this issue. The witness is right in that regard.

Everybody knows that Brexit is going to be a huge challenge. We have already seen some industries suffer, particularly the horticulture and mushroom industries. Has Mr. Comer any indication, apart from round table forums, as to how we can set out a pathway to try to deal with it? While we can take steps, they are going to be somewhat within the confines of what is happening elsewhere. Until Article 50 is triggered and until all of the various things are in place, there is a multiplicity of relationships that have to be dealt with in that context. There is no one-size-fits-all solution with which we can deal with this situation quickly.

The management deposit scheme is something that Mr. Comer has been consistent about. I like consistency. At least that is good. Could he outline it for us? He could even send a note to us on how he sees it working. He might not have time to do that here so perhaps Mr. John Enright would send it to us.

I wish to ask one question. We have listened carefully to Mr. Comer's colleagues in the IFA, such as Mr. Seán O'Leary, who is a very experienced man in the dairy area. It is about the crisis in funding. Mr. Comer indicated that it can be paid out directly, while Mr. O'Leary indicated that there may well be obstacles and conditions attached to it and there may be other farmers entitled to it. How can we have those apparently irreconcilable viewpoints being expressed here today before a committee of ordinary people who may not have the same expertise available to them as the witnesses?

Both organisations advocate on behalf of the farming community. How can such a view be expressed so forcefully by the witnesses, and by Mr. O'Leary who is a person of standing in the milk production area? Will the witnesses explain this? Perhaps we have missed something.