Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Reilly for his detailed and concise presentation and his proposals for aid to his sector. The PRSI proposal seems very practical. Does Mr. Reilly have costings for the proposals such as the PRSI, tax relief and renewable heat incentive? The Irish producers have been under pressure from Polish product in the UK market and we accept that what has happened is outside the producers' control. In the vast majority of cases the contracts have eight or ten months to run and are fixed and agreed in sterling.

If producers can get to the point where the contracts have been renewed and we can help them over this serious hump, does Mr. Reilly think the industry will be able to see off the Polish threat? Mr. Reilly said the number of growers has reduced very significantly over recent years and one worry is that they are losing market share to Polish suppliers who have the same problems with sterling as we have. Irish suppliers have been losing market share. We should persuade the Government to step in and help the industry. Unless we step in, the industry will not survive so it has to get help immediately. I hope when the contracts are renewed the industry will be back to profitability. Will Mr. Reilly comment on the significant threat from the Polish side? Are there costings on the different initiatives to address that threat? I am the Fianna Fáil spokesman on horticulture and I have discussed it with Deputy Charlie McConalogue and Senator Paul Daly. We are fully committed to trying to get these proposals into the budget and into reality.